Madison Community Foundation Grant Helps Fund GiGi Prep Program

Madison Community Foundation Grant Helps Fund GiGi Prep Program

Madison, WI –GiGi’s Playhouse Madison is honored to have received a $15,000 grant from Madison Community Foundation to help fund our career development program, GiGi Prep. GiGi Prep programs are progressive learning programs for adults, compromised of modular programs that meet multiple times each week for 6-10 weeks in length that encompass Confident U, Healthy U, and Whole U.

The program has an emphasis on building communication skills, money management, customer service skills, team building and wellness. This program is an application based program with high expectations to motivate adults with Down syndrome. With the success of our first session in summer, we are thrilled to be able to offer another session this Fall.

We have seen participants grow their skills and even emerge as leaders in the classroom! Courtney, one of our GiGi Prep teachers, shared that one of our participants “came into GiGi prep with a strong foundation in career experience in money management. This allowed her to thrive as a supporter, mentor, and leader. She was always quick to help if someone was learning a new concept for the first time. She was able to help participants in ways that we couldn’t.”

More about GiGi’s Playhouse
GiGi’s Playhouse was founded by Nancy Gianni in 2003, after her daughter, GiGi, was diagnosed with Down syndrome. GiGi’s Playhouse meets the demand for programs that target the underserved population of more than 450,000 Americans living with Down syndrome. GiGi’s Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that survives completely on charitable donations. Funds raised from the 2019 Gala will enrich children and adults with Down syndrome through vital programs such as one-on-one literacy and math tutoring, speech and language therapy, fitness classes, career training, social groups, and more. GiGi’s Playhouse also works to break down barriers and advance its vision of acceptance for all, through the #GenerationG campaign: Be Accepting. Be Generous. Be Kind. For more information, visit www.GiGisPlayhouse.org.

More about Madison Community Foundation

In the last 25 years, together with donors, Madison Community Foundation has given more than $200 million to the greater Madison area. Established as a community trust in 1942, MCF has grown to 1,100 charitable funds with $250 million in assets. For more information, visit madisongives.org.