And this year’s award winners are…

Each year, GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster chooses to honor individuals or organizations that go above and beyond for those in our GiGi’s community and beyond. At our Gala on March 22, 2025, we were thrilled to give out 3 awards.

Community Impact Champion

The Community Impact Champion award goes to an individual or organization who has demonstrated outstanding IMPACT to their Local Community in a way that truly sets them apart. This year’s award winner put forth tremendous effort in building relationships to make a huge impact across the local community, as well as in the Down syndrome community. We met this individual in March 2023 and as soon as they had a tour of our previous Playhouse, they were hooked on our mission. This person chose GiGi’s to be one of her local TV station’s community partners, providing GiGi’s with opportunities to have our first digital billboards displayed in two towns in Lancaster county on prominent roads. We also were given our first TV commercials to advertise for upcoming fundraisers, including GFAC, Golf, Extra Give, and more!

Over the past two years, this individual has made sure we got many hours of airtime, as well as thousands of dollars worth of advertising for our organization. This individual has also invited us to participate in community events that helped us outreach with our community, as well as gave our participants an opportunity to participate in the local community and give a voice to Down syndrome. We were given the honor of carrying the flag on the Fightin Phils field on Father’s Day two years in a row. We were invited to a movie night at a local theatre, baseball games, and more! Due to her connections in the community, she then began telling others about our mission and connected us with the Woman’s Club of Ephrata, who chose us as the beneficiary of their fashion show, inviting two of our adult participants with Down syndrome to model in the local fashion show. She also got us our first paid performance at their Christmas show.

This person worked for Blue Ridge Communication for the past 40 years and has just recently retired. Through her time there, she made an impact on various local nonprofits just like us, who would have a similar story. Blue Ridge shares this about her: her commitment and contributions have shaped our community in countless ways, leaving a lasting legacy that we will cherish for years to come!

This year’s Community Impact Champion goes to… (drum roll please)… Cindy Mellinger! Congratulations Cindy!

“Generation G Award”

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 few years. This individual may not be well known by everyone at the Playhouse, because they are humble and serve others quietly, making sure that our events go smoothly, especially those events with a kitchen or a food aspect. This volunteer can usually be found in the kitchen at some of our favorite events, such as Pancakes and Pajamas and Bingo. He makes sure we are preparing and serving food safely. He goes above and beyond as a volunteer, and has even gotten his whole family involved in volunteering with him at GiGi’s events. He will take on any volunteer role, and helps us get out into the community. He is better known as our Chili Cook-Off chef atf the Lititz Fire and Ice Festival through the Lititz Lion’s Club. He has made and served up delicious chili recipes for the past three  years! We even won third place for our chili two years ago! He is passionate about cooking and shares that passion with the GiGi’s community.

At our Grand Re-Opening, this volunteer helped out so much and was the first to arrive and begin setting things up. When he is not volunteering with GiGi’s, he can be found volunteering with some of our participants as the UDS Football Coach. He is truly a reflection of someone who is accepting, generous, and kind. This year’s Generation G Award goes to… (drum roll please)… Gary Gregory! Congratulations Gary! Gary was unable to make it to the Gala, so his wife, Allison accepted it on his behalf and his daughter made a video to show him. He was surprised and is now proudly displaying his award in his office.

Volunteer of the Year

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 2025 Volunteer of the Year for GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster goes to a person who is well loved at the Playhouse by participants, families, and volunteers. She always goes above and beyond. She volunteers and leads numerous GiGiFIT programs, is a virtual 1:1 tutor for our participants, and volunteers at most of our events, giving it her all when she is interacting with participants and families. She is always willing to jump in and help in any scenario or substitute for other instructors or volunteers. When she is on the volunteer list, we know we will have a successful program.

In August 2023, after attending a birthday party at GiGi’s Playhouse for a participant that also happens to go to school with her son and daughter, her son asked to start volunteering there with his peers. She started volunteering with her son at GiGiFIT Kid and soon began co-leading and instructing GiGiFIT Infant and GiGiFIT Preschool as well. She has such a gentle approach to assisting our littlest participants, coming alongside them and giving them just enough support so that they can do activities and movements more independently. She has made such genuine connections with the parents here at GiGi’s, making them feel welcome, accepted and supported in their caregiver role. She is quick to lend a listening ear and encouragement when they need it.

After this year’s Pancakes and Pajamas, she approached us and said, “I know its not on the docket to start yet, but I have the time and would really love to start GiGiFIT you and I” which was the only GiGiFIT program we were not yet running. She has shared how GiGis has helped her find her passion working in the disability community and she doesn’t feel like she is volunteering when she comes to GiGi’s because she enjoys It so much! We are so proud and excited to give this year’s Volunteer of the Year award to… (drum roll please)… Mel Beiler! Congratulations Mel!

Congratulations to all of our award winners! We are so blessed to have you on our GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster team!