October is Down syndrome Awareness Month

October is Down syndrome Awareness Month

GiGi’s “i have a Voice” Gala raises funds for free, purposeful programs for individuals with Down syndrome

Madison, WI – October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. During October, we celebrate people with Down syndrome and shine a light on the abilities and dreams of those with Down syndrome. During this month, events take place to break down barriers and focus on promoting advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome.

GiGi’s Playhouse, Madison’s only Down syndrome achievement center, is thrilled to announce it will celebrate our participants at the “i have a Voice” Gala on Friday, October 25th, 2019, 6:00pm at the Lake Windsor Country Club (Windsor, WI). The gala is key to expanding our voice in the world and to promote our mission – to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all. To help spread awareness for the playhouse and the Down syndrome community, GiGi’s is honored to have been chosen to be an Adams Outdoor Wisconsin- Collaborate partner! As part of this year long advertising campaign, Adams has donated $250,000 worth of advertising including six posters (12’ x 24’) and two bulletins (15’ by 48’) that rotate within the Madison market for one full year. The playhouse will also receive advertising space on Adams’ five digital boards throughout the Madison area. The Adams team shared, “This year, GiGi’s was chosen by Adams Collaborate because of the passion and enthusiasm everyone from GiGi’s Playhouse showed.  It also made an impression on us that we could impact a bricks and mortar facility and see real growth and progress because of the campaign.”

The Madison Playhouse is one of 46 GiGi’s Playhouse Down syndrome achievement centers located in the U.S. and Mexico. GiGi’s Madison opened in 2016 and serves over 300 families. 99% of GiGi’s programs are provided by trained volunteers that graciously donate their time. Although programs are offered free of charge to participants, they are not free for GiGi’s to deliver.

The gala is our most important fundraiser of the year and is crucial to our ability to offer educational programming free of charge to our families. This important night will feature emcee, Meghan Reistad of NBC15, key note speaker, Dan Coppola of Café Domestique, and some of our very own GiGi’s participants. The “i have a Voice” Gala will include a cash bar, dinner, silent auction, wine pull and more. To top off the night attendees can sing, dance, laugh, and clap along to the interactive musical performance of Piano Fondue dueling pianos.

Gala tickets are now available for $125 per person, and there are opportunities for corporate or family sponsorships. All gala proceeds will support GiGi’s ability to provide life-changing, free, therapeutic, educational and career training services to our participants and their families. For tickets and sponsorship information, go to https://gigisplayhouse.org/madison/gala/

More about Adams Outdoor Wisconsin

Adams Outdoor Advertising had been providing Public Service Announcements for years, they decided they wanted to do more to help local nonprofits. As a result, they founded the Adams Collaborate in 2016. This program creates year-long professional outdoor advertising campaigns for free for chosen nonprofits.

After selecting nonprofits from a large pool of applicants, the Adams team schedules meeting with these organizations to tour their facility, brainstorm campaign ideas and configure designs that best showcase their mission, branding and overarching goal. Each nonprofit receives $250,000 worth of advertising including six posters (12’ x 24’) and two bulletins (15’ by 48’) that rotate within the Madison market for one full year. They also receive advertising space on Adams’ five digital boards throughout the Madison area on a space-available basis for events pertaining to their organization. All printing and production costs, in addition to staff time for creation, design, development and meetings, are provided at no cost to the nonprofit.

During the past 4 years Adams has developed campaigns for 25 non-profits such as Gilda’s Club, Olbrich Gardens, Second Harvest Food Bank, Urban League, Underdog Pet Rescue, DAIS, and Operation Fresh Start.