Casino Royale Gala & Awards 

The Lancaster Marriott was transformed into a dazzling hub of excitement and generosity on the evening of April 6, 2024, as GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster hosted its much-anticipated Casino Royale gala. This event wasn’t just about glamour and games; it was a heartfelt gathering aimed at supporting GiGi’s mission of changing the way the world views Down syndrome, and changing lives through delivery of free purposeful programming. 

Guests were greeted with the glitz of casino-themed décor and the buzz of anticipation that comes with games like Roulette, Spin the Wheel, and Craps. Laughter and cheers filled the air as attendees tried their luck, all for a great cause.  

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the exciting performance by GiGi’s dancers, showcasing their talent and spirit with every step, as they danced to Kings and Queens, choreographed and lead by our dance instructor Miss Allison. 

As the night unfolded, guests enjoyed live music by Colin York, dinner, dancing, bidding on silent auction items, and taking a chance at winning raffle prizes.   

Guests listened to inspiring speeches from our Programs Coordinator, Board President, Kynleigh’s family, and self advocates Kaitlyn and Anthony. The speeches highlighted the importance of purposeful programming and celebrated Best of All moments for our participants with Down syndrome. The community spirit was evident as sponsors, donors, and volunteers came together to make a significant impact. 

The board was proud to give out two awards on the evening of the Gala, the Generation G award and the Volunteer of the Year award.  

“The Volunteer of the Year Award goes to an individual who goes above and beyond, dedicating their time and talents to the participants and overall operations of the Playhouse. This year’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year for GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster goes to a person who is well loved at the Playhouse by participants, families, volunteers, and the board of directors. She always goes above and beyond. She volunteers for and leads numerous programs, giving it her all when she is interacting with participants. She is always willing to step in and help or substitute for other instructors or volunteers. She makes exercising fun and engaging for our kids, teens, and adults. She incorporates interests into tutoring sessions and follows the lead of the student to maximize their learning. She has formed strong relationships particularly with many of our kid, teen, and adult participants. She is skilled at coordinating large groups of volunteers, such as those you see busy here tonight, as well as the 100+ volunteers necessary for our Pancakes & Pajamas event and our GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge! She ropes in her family and friends to volunteer as well! She goes out of her way to make sure everyone at GiGi’s is included and can work towards achieving their Best of All! When we first read her volunteer application, she wrote “Finding out about GiGi’s was like a dream come true for me.” She continued to explain that she was a college student pursing special education, as well as a registered yoga teacher, barre instructor, and Les Mills group fitness instructor, so GiGiFIT would be a perfect mix of both for her. We quickly found out that her finding US was a ‘dream come true for GiGi’s’ as well and we are so grateful to her dedication, passion, kindness and leadership! We are so proud and excited to give this year’s Volunteer of the Year award to Alyssa Newton!” 

“The Generation G Award goes to an individual or an organization who goes above and beyond, embracing acceptance, generosity and kindness. This year’s Generation G award is being presented to an individual whose acceptance, generosity, and kindness has been impacting GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster over the past year. This individual may not be well known by everyone at the Playhouse yet because they are humble and serve others quietly, making sure that the participants are successful and encouraged each step of the way. This individual volunteers alongside his peers at GiGiFIT Kid weekly, as well as any other program he can get his mom to bring him to! He has a gentle way of coming alongside his peers with Down syndrome and treating them with the most acceptance and kindness. He has a special ability to motivate some of our participants that are the most difficult to motivate. One participant in particular was always one to hang in the back or even in a different room during programs instead. This volunteer met the participant where they were at, often joining them to pass a ball back and forth, slowly encouraging them to join the group and participate. This participate would say ‘no’ to try the obstacle course, then would point to this volunteer, as if to say, I will do it if he will do it with me. Such a unique bond is forming with this volunteer and a variety of our kids at GiGi’s. He tries his best to notice and point out a Best of All Moment in a participant each week at GiGiFIT Kid. This year’s recipient is a fifth grade student who is also displays #GenerationG in his school, volunteering in the life skills class for the past 3 years. His mom shares that he advocates for the students’ abilities and celebrates their strengths with genuine empathy and understanding. Although he is young, we believe he is already making a difference in the lives of those around him and are truly proud of him! This year’s Generation G Award goes to Harold Beiler!”  

The gala culminated in a moment of triumph as it was announced that over $45,000 had been raised, a testament to the generosity and commitment of everyone involved. Special thanks were extended to the sponsors whose support made the evening possible and whose contributions will enable GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster to continue its mission of changing the way the world views Down syndrome. 

The Casino Royale gala was not just a fundraiser; it was a celebration of resilience, inclusion, and the boundless potential within every individual. It demonstrated that when a community rallies together, incredible things can be achieved. Thank you to all who were involved!