So Much to Celebrate on World Down Syndrome Day

Wow, we had an awesome World Down Syndrome Day this year on 3/21! Every year on March 21, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with our community and the world. We celebrate on this day each year because individuals with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. We also wear fun mis-matched socks because the chromosomes look like mis-matched socks. It’s a great way to bring awareness and acceptance about our loved ones with Down syndrome to the community!

We started off our day speaking to 160 middle and high school students for their Career Day at Lancaster County Christian School, where students wore mis-matched socks for WDSD. We shared about what Down syndrome is, why we celebrate WDSD, how individuals with Down syndrome learn best, what GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster does in our community, and possible jobs someone can have to work with individuals with Down syndrome now or in the future.

Then we hosted a class of high school students from the IU13 School to Work program for them to work on pre-vocational skills at the Playhouse. They were able to help us with a variety of tasks, including assembling volunteer name tags and signs for our upcoming Gala the next day, as well as wrapping up awards to give out at the Gala. They also wore their fun socks to celebrate the day!

Next, we had our weekly GiGi’s Kitchen program and they all wore their fun socks together to celebrate. The participants worked together in the kitchen to make tortellini salad and hot ham and cheese sandwiches that they ate for lunch. One group also made cupcakes for the WDSD party at the Playhouse in the evening.

The kitchen participants were surprised by Meg from Texas Roadhouse, who brought them yummy Texas Roadhouse rolls and cinnamon butter. Meg made sure to show us her fun socks as well!

Next, we welcomed State Representative Nikki Rivera and provided her with a tour of our Playhouse. She got to hear about our mission and what we’ve been doing over the last 5 years in our community. She met the kitchen participants, shared a bit about herself, then opened it up for questions. 

During the day, we got a message that our supporters from Fulton Bank also rocked their socks at work for WDSD today. Thank you! Thank you also for being a sponsor of our Gala the next day!

We also got a message that one of our supporters, Mike Stern, wore themed gear for his Dek (Street) hockey game for nationals on World Down Syndrome Day to spread awareness! He shared that he wore it in honor of Nathaniel Ireland Jr, his sons’ half brother. Also, he had a photographer come to the game specifically because of WDSD. Mike plans to continue wearing the 3/21 themed gear, even after the day is over!

Then we were invited to the WGAL Channel 8 Studio for a talk back interview that aired live at 4:30pm. While we were at the studio, we ran into Jere Gish, who was the emcee at our Gala the next day. We were interviewed by Michael Fuller about World Down Syndrome Day and GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster, and you could see our fun socks on the news! 

In the evening, we welcomed 130+ people to the Playhouse for our celebration, open play, and karaoke. A life group from LCBC Church came to play with our kiddos. We welcomed a family with a new 3 month old baby, and a few other new families to the Playhouse for the first time. We were happy to have Fox43 come to the party as well. We enjoyed rocking our socks together!

Throughout the day, Business Information Group (BIG) shared that they would donate $5 to GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster for each sock picture posted to their page on 3/21. Thank you to everyone who shared a picture and thank you to BIG for your donation of $757.81 for this initiative!

All day, and to close out the evening, the gala planning committee and volunteers decorated and set up at our new venue, the Lancaster Wyndham, for An Evening Under the Sea gala, where we welcomed over 250 people to raise money to support our mission of changing the way the world views Down syndrome and sending a global message of acceptance for all!

What an awesome 3/21 this year! Thank you to everyone for spreading awareness and acceptance for our friends with an extra chromosome – we had an awesome World Down Syndrome Day with all of you. We look forward to seeing you again soon for weekly and monthly free purposeful programming at the Playhouse for all ages. Save the date for next year’s celebration on  3/21/26!