Looking Back: Elevating the Down Syndrome Community in 2023!
December 29, 2023
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Each year we like to reflect on the ways our community has lived our mission of ‘changing the way the world views Down syndrome and bringing a global message of acceptance for all’.
From celebrating the introduction of innovative programs, the initiation of powerful collaborations, and the heightened success of our fundraisers-together, we’ve made strides in uplifting the Down syndrome community.
These highlights are a testament to the impact of our collective efforts:
- Our network of Playhouses celebrated 20 years of advocacy
- Locally, we celebrated 7 years of direct impact in the greater Madison area with a party and fashion show with the now Miss Wisconsin, Lila Szyryj
- Our playhouse families grew to over 380! We are reaching more families than ever before
- Learn why our volunteers and families choose GiGi’s HERE
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- We provided a record-breaking, 900+ programming hours in March
- There were 18 different programs offered- all free of charge as always!
- This was only possible with the hard-work of our staff and dedicated program volunteers for their commitment to provide the life-changing programs.
- The physical therapy based, GiGiFIT, program was offered for toddlers, kids, teens and adults!
- We partnered with CI Pediatric Therapy centers to have physical therapists lead the program to make this program even more impactful for our youngest participants.
- GiGi’s Kitchen was introduced for kids, teens and adults and resulted in increased life, social and fine motor skills
- Our partnership with the UW Speech and Hearing Clinic allowed us to provide 40 families with 1,200 hours of free Amina Grace speech and language therapy
- Special thanks to the Amina Grace Memorial Foundation for continuing to support us with a $5,000 grant
- Our three major fundraisers, Dash for Down syndrome, Go FORE It golf outing, and Generation G Gala, were more productive than ever before
The 2nd annual Dash for Down syndrome welcomed 500 people to all celebrate acceptance together and raised over $60,000!
- Our donors, grantors and sponsors provided the gifts that allowed 22 different programs to run FREE OF CHARGE to all our families
- To see a list of our largest supporters, please visit our DONOR PAGE
- Our Friends of GiGi’s program was our largest yet, with 7 supporters! Visit our page to learn more
- Our staff and volunteer Board of Directors grew to keep up with the growth of our Playhouse!
- Meet our STAFF, AMBASSADORS and BOARD MEMBERS
- The hard-work was recognized at our annual leadership conference where we were awarded 7 standards of execution awards. 5 of those were at the Center of Excellence of level- an achievement that is only possible with the team working together.
- The strength and reach of our Playhouse work showed with the continued partnerships through Waisman Center and the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin-South Central
- We are stronger together when we can all work for the common goal of better serving our Down syndrome community
- Check out the Day with the Experts- Down syndrome here
- The most important accomplishments are the Best of All celebrations which happened the entire year
- We celebrated World Down Syndrome Day, the end of Summer, the holidays (with 170 people!) and all the work our volunteers and participants put into every program.
- Best of All= doing a little bit better than the time before and this is how we will be entering 2024 as well