Five Awards Honoring and Celebrating our Playhouse Community

Awards were handed out to 5 people who have made a large impact to our Playhouse community.

Our Disco Themed 8th Annual Gala allowed us to gather and celebrate everyone who helps us in our very important work: To change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.

Our volunteers, advocates, and community supporters are the fuel to the free programming we’re able to provide at GiGi’s. This year were are so pleased to be present 5 different awards to Playhouse and Community members who have made substantial contributions and lasting impacts, not only in the past year, but since our opening 8 years ago.

2024 Generation G Volunteer Award – Kazmer Family

Generation G is a conscious decision to be better every day; it is a movement that symbolizes change and a push for acceptance.

This year, our Generation G Volunteer Award recognizes a group of change-makers, who support our Playhouse in creating more inclusive spaces and connecting families through advocacy and leadership.

They consistently take action and step up to take on countless volunteer roles both at our special events and fundraisers, and during regularly scheduled programming. This crew has led our Fantastic Friends adult group numerous times, bringing endless creativity and energy with them during each class. We are grateful for their support and efforts to keep our Playhouse vibrant and inclusive year-round.

The Generation G Volunteer Award goes to…. the Kazmer Family, led by Teresa and Walter Kazmer for truly living ‘Generation G’.

2024 Community Impact Award – Van Holten’s Pickles

We are so lucky to have many community partners that truly believe in our mission. We wanted to recognize one of our partners who continually goes above and beyond with their support of our entire Playhouse community. This organization lives “Generation G” by demonstrating how to be accepting, generous and kind.

They have been a Friend of GiGi’s partner from the beginning and donate their coveted pickles to every one of our events!! They even donated a suite at the Mallards game this summer, allowing us to host a volunteer appreciation event.

We are awarding Van Holten’s Pickles the Community Impact Award for their on-going support of our Playhouse mission.

2024 Believer Award – Susan Torgrude

Believe: one of our 5 Core Values here at GiGi’s Playhouse.  Believe in ourselves, believe in our mission, believe in each other, and believe in the history that brought us here. 

This year we are excited to present the Believer award to someone who has Believed since the beginning of GiGi’s Playhouse Madison.  She helped bring GiGi’s Playhouse to Madison 8 years ago because they believed in its mission and vision.  Without her, we wouldn’t be here today.  As a true believer, she also helped create Dynamic Duals, a monthly program that helps support participants with a Dual Diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism.  She welcomes new staff and volunteers with a smile on her face, believing that they are here to make a difference as well.

We are awarding our Believer Award to Susan Torgrude for her substantial impact and on-going support to our Playhouse community.

2024 Advocacy Award – Matt Keys

At GiGi’s Playhouse, our advocates are the people, organizations and communities that endlessly support and uplift our Playhouse mission: to change the way the world views Down syndrome. Advocates are passionate, resilient and selfless. They keep our Playhouse progressive; embodying the change we need to push ‘acceptance for all’. 

This year, we are overjoyed to present an ‘Advocacy Award’ to an active Playhouse participant who has become one of our most dedicated volunteers. This advocate is hard-working, reliable, and always walks into GiGi’s ready to make a difference. We thank him for the light he brings into our days and the impact he has made at our Playhouse. 

We are awarding Matt Keys for his substantial impact to GiGi’s Playhouse through volunteering, participation and positive energy.

2024 Volunteer of the Year Award – Mary Lewis

Volunteers are the heart of GiGi’s Playhouse. They make the time to serve, support, and empower our individuals with Down syndrome to succeed and feel valued every day. This year, we are pleased to present our ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award to an individual that has been a part of our Madison Playhouse family since the beginning. An optimistic, genuine person – this volunteer is a true believer of our mission: an accepting, generous and kind person. Her leadership and empathy are inspiring; always finding a way to better those around her and make meaningful connections. 

She is a friend to all, and we continue to be grateful that we have a volunteer like her as a member of our Playhouse. She has made an impact that will be remembered forever. 

We are awarding Mary Lewis for her commitment to leading engaging programs and for the long-term commitment she has made to our Playhouse community.

Thank you all for your contributions over the years. Together, we will change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.