2024 Dash for Down Syndrome Team Spotlights

Our 3rd annual Dash for Down Syndrome is on April 27th, 2024 at Winnequah Park in Monona.

Everyone has their own reasons for participating so we wanted to highlight them for you.

To learn more or create your own team, click HERE

Scroll down to see all our spotlight teams!

Team: DoubL TroubL

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, in 2023
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Lavendar and her friend Luna because they are awesome!
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • This run!
• How do you give your “Best of All”?
  • Always having a positive attitude and to be accepting of all
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • By loving them!
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • It means so much! It means people care about people with Down syndrome and accept them!
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • Lavendar is so much fun. She loves music, swimming, and playing outside! Life is better with her in it!

Team: Kelly’s Movers and Shakers

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, from the very beginning!
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • All the amazing families in our Playhouse community
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • I’m lucky enough to get to work here, but seeing all the awesome programs and Best of All moments is the best!
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • By doing my best to run the Playhouse in a way that benefits as many families and volunteers as possible.
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Sharing about what GiGi’s Playhouse is all about and making our families feel welcome!
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • This is such a unique place- it’s truly a home away from home for families and it’s changed my life for the better.
• How do you have fun with your friends who have Down syndrome?
  • I love joking around with all my friends who participate at our Playhouse. Their personalities are huge and they’re always putting a smile on my face.

Team: Alexa’s A-Team

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, from the very beginning!
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • We are honoring my daughter, Alexa, who is an amazing individual and happens to have Down syndrome. We want her to have every opportunity to be included in our community!
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • The GiGiFIT program
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse
  • I have been on the GiGi’s Playhouse Madison board since 2019 and am currently the board president. I love to serve the Down syndrome community and make GiGi’s Playhouse Madison the best it can be!
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Our family shows acceptance by including people with all abilities in our community circle. Our daughter loves having her friends from GiGi’s and differently-abled school friends over for play dates, which is important for those kids!
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • GiGi’s Playhouse Madison is an amazing community resource. The ability to have FREE therapeutic and educational programming for individuals with Down syndrome, at all ages of their life, is life-changing. We are so fortunate to have GiGi’s Playhouse in the Madison area!
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • My daughter is a bright spot in everyone’s day. She is the most compassionate and caring person you will ever meet. We love to hang out as a family!

Team: Team McKay

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, since 2021
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • We are honoring all of the Playhouse families and participants!
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • This Dash for Down Syndrome!
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse
  • Being the VP of our Board of Directors
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • We love increasing awareness about GiGi’s by starting with our families and friends
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • GiGi’s is a safe and fun place for members of the Down syndrome community and their community to gather, experience exceptional and free programming, and to be accepted. It is priceless!

Team: Anne’s Allies

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, since 2022
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • I am honoring all families in the Down syndrome community! I started out supporting families in the Down syndrome community 20 years ago as a Pediatric Physical Therapist. Previous years, we participated as a neighbor, friend and classmate of a family. Now as staff, I’m participating for all families and for acceptance of all!
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • I love all of the programs we offer, but starting off as coordinator, I particularly love our 1 on 1 programs. I love how hard our tutors work at getting to know their student and their families and celebrating their “best of all” moments.
• How do you give your Best of All each day
  • I strive to be accepting, generous and kind to all! Everyone is different in their own way – we need to celebrate all of our differences!
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse
  • I love to celebrate our volunteers! Thank you – we couldn’t provide all of our amazing programming without you!
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • I get to know others for who they are and not make assumptions. Everyone has a place in the world!
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • To have GiGi’s in our community means that we can help our participants learn and grow how we know they learn best. We can support our participants and their families and help them connect with one another.

Team: Brenda’s Buddies

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, since 2022
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Brenda – so we can help support all things Brenda!
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • GiGiFIT Adult
• How do you give your Best of All each day
  • Best of all is the only way to live! Celebrate the little wins each and every day.
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse
  • I love using my passion of recreation programming to help provide meaningful and impactful classes.
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • By offering meaningful conversation and offering time.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • Support, friendship and community understanding.
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • How do you not have fun with Brenda’s outlook on life is so positive!

Team: Team Elvis

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, last year was our first year
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Jamie is truly an inspiration to her family and friends and everyone she meets. She’s a walking inspiration.
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Fantastic Friends and the parties
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse
  • I love dropping her off at her Fantastic Friends group and seeing all the smiles and the exchanges of kindness. I also like being a guess presenter on occasion. This group for friends are the most attentive and excited listeners and they have great questions and pure Enthusiasm.
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Remember that we are all doing our best, despite circumstances, and we should just cut everyone a break. Whether or not they have a disability.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • We are so fortunate to have this so close to us. My sister has a support network I could only dream of.
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • In the words of my sister, “I’m just enjoying my life right now”. She reminds me to do the same. We do the most simple and fun activities when we hang out. Whether it’s doing dancing or looking for shapes in the clouds. She’s a pure and fun person. She has zero judgement for others and I can only dream of being as kind as my big sister. She’s an inspiration.

Team: Team DoubL TroubL

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, in 2023
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Luna and Lavi! What a blessing they are to everyone:-)
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Dash for Down Syndrome
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Being loving and kind to ALL!
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • We are so thankful to have GiGi’s in our community. GiGi’s spreads and shares the message of inclusion and acceptance of all abilities daily!
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • Luna is a charismatic and loving 4-year-old. She loves anything that involves singing, dancing, or painting. She is well known for her contagious smile and her friendly personality. Luna is always waving, hugging, blowing kisses, or saying, “Good Morning” to everyone she meets! Luna is such a blessing to her family. She is adored by her brother and sister (Lola and Adler) and has made her mom and dad (Casey and Valerie) appreciate the “small” things in life!

Team: Harry’s Hoofers

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, in 2023
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Our cousins Jimmy and Rodney
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Yoga, Dynamic Duals and the Gala! Brian is also serving as a Board Member.
• How do you give your ‘Best of All’ each day?
  • We set goals but celebrate the journey as much (if not more) than the accomplishment.
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s?
  • We love to volunteer during Dynamic Duals. It is fun to see the progress each participant makes over time.
• How do you show acceptance to other people?
  • We enjoy and focus on the positive qualities of others.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • The parents get the networking they need and individuals with Down syndrome get the tools they need to succeed. Our communities get the gifts of our friends with Down syndrome.
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down sy
  • We love to be active with our friends and they help build our confidence. We love getting high fives and hugs.

Team: Christopher Walkin’

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, since the beginning
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Our Brother/Brother-in-Law Christopher Johnson
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • We enjoy everything that they have to offer. Chris especially loves to just hang out at the Playhouse.
• How do you have fun with your family member?
  • We have as many ‘adventures’ with CJ as we can. Polka anyone???
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • It’s a great place for families to share ‘the good and the bad’.

Team: Addi’s Advocates

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, from the very beginning!
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Yes, we are honoring Addison Berndt, who is our daughter and Charlie’s sister.
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Addi’s Mom & Dad would say Amina Grace Speech Therapy – Addi would say ALL the parties!
• How do you give your Best of All each day?
  • We give our best of all each day through our commitment to being life-long learners. And also, patience. We are constantly striving to be more patient.
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse
  • My favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s is through being on the board – being on the board is a unique opportunity to directly influence the trajectory of our growing Playhouse. It has also afforded me the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful supporters and use my love of marketing to “sell” something that has been so meaningful and impactful to our family.
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • By meeting people where they are at, by reserving judgement and by modeling inclusion.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • I can’t imagine not having a GiGi’s Playhouse in our community – GiGi’s has been a wonderful source of community and support, but also an excellent resource (family speaker series, partnership with the Waisman Day with the Experts, etc.). It has also given me a unique way to connect with the Down syndrome community, outside of just being a Mom. At GiGi’s, I’m a Mom AND an advocate, a volunteer and a friend.
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • I think it’s important to acknowledge that we have fun with Addi in the same way we have fun with Charlie. I can’t imagine our lives without her in it. There was a time when Down syndrome was our whole life and now, partly because of GiGi’s, it just feels like part of our life.

Team: Team Ben

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, in 2022 and 2023
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Yes Benjamin kazmer is our son with Down syndrome we started this team to raise money for GiGi’s playhouse! The programs are amazing!
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Speech but the other programs are amazing so it’s hard to choose just one.
• How do you give your Best of All each day?
  • By being more patient.
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse
  • Our family will host fantastic friends when needed. We love doing this and getting the friends involved in experiences they may not get to experience and have fun doing it!
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Through kindness even when that is a challenge.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse in your community?
  • Continuing education for ben and community of friends.
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • Ben is our son we include him in everything from going camping with his aunt and uncle to hiking and swimming with his sisters and niece and nephews.

Team: Katie’s Crew

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, in 2023
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Our daughter/sister Katie
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Too many to choose from- literacy tutoring, speech, GiGiFit all help Katie live her best life!
• How do you give your Best of All each day?
  • Katie was anxious when she first started coming to GiGi’s programs. Now she’s excited to be at GiGi’s and see all the new friends she’s made.
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Through inclusion
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse
  • It provides so many opportunities for people with Down syndrome that wouldn’t be available otherwise and it builds community that wouldn’t be available otherwise.

Team: Park Bank

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated before?
  • Park Bank has been a Friends of GiGi’s partner since 2021 and has brought a team the past two years!
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse?
  • At Park Bank, we consider community support a responsibility. Having the opportunity to participate with GiGi’s is a privilege and we’re honored to celebrate alongside all the individuals this great organization has touched. Here’s hoping for sunshine this year

Team: Homies with an Extra Chromie and Their Gnomies

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, since the beginning!
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Yes! Marek and Jacob love the playhouse and met here in the ball-pit at LMNOP. Its been great watching them grow and the support of a wonderful community for families.
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Destination Discovery is great for the whole family. Exploring different activities that meet participants at variety of levels and exposure to something new.
• How do you give your Best of All each day?
  • Wake up trying to give 100% and that sometimes means taking a break to be ready for more.
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Truly listening and acting when needed.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse
  • Great resource for building community.
• How do you have fun with your family member who has Down syndrome?
  • Marek is an irreplaceable part of our family. We find ways to laugh and learn everyday using music and dancing.

Team: UW Speechies

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • This team has participated for the last 2 years but this is my (Liz) first time.
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Amina Grace Speech and Language Program
• How do you give your Best of All each day?
  • Being compassionate and kind
• What is your favorite way to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse?
  • Integrating art into GiGi’s (e.g., window art)
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Appreciating that everyone has strengths!
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse
  • It is such a welcoming place with a focus on the positive! (So important for the community)

Team: Caleb’s Crew

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, since the beginning!
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Caleb Blackburn He is a fun, silly,unique and brings alot of joy and happiness to our family and others he encounters’
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • Special Olympics Young Athletes
• How do you give your Best of All each day?
  • Patience
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • Compassion
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse
  • It’s a great asset.
• How do you have fun with your fa
  • We play cars baseball, soccer, dance, and many other activities he is a joy to hang out with and play with.

Team: Damian’s Dashers

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • Yes, the 2023 Dash
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • My son Damian because he has down syndrome.
• How do you give your Best of All each day?
  • I start my day with caffeine so I can be the best version of myself and have an abundance of patience.
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • By keeping an open mind and even if I disagree with someone’s ideals and opinions I’m respectful about it.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse
  • It’s amazing, I love that there is a place my son can be himself and have so many people there to support him.
• How do you have fun with your fa
  • We often read together or sing songs in the car together. My son is the light of my life and he is so special and amazing. I’m so thankful for him everyday.

Team: Team Norah

To donate to or join this team click HERE

• Have you participated in this event in the past?
  • It’s our first time!
• Are you honoring anyone with your team?
  • Yes, my daughter Norah. She made us a part of the lucky few 3 years ago.
• What is your favorite way to participate at the Playhouse?
  • LMNOP
• How do you show acceptance to others?
  • By treating everyone with love and respect regardless of differences.
• What does it mean to you to have a GiGi’s Playhouse
  • GiGi’s Playhouse helped us through the darker times of our diagnosis, and has become a place my family can go and enjoy.