Superhero Award: 2020

This award was established in 2016 to recognize someone who has gone above and beyond on behalf of the Playhouse and individuals with Down Syndrome. It is presented annually at our Fashion Show

Our 2020 GiGi’s Playhouse McHenry County’s Superheroes are Keven and Katie Kelley, owners of Terra Vitae Farms in Woodstock and Jakes Dioguardi, owner of Porkies, also in Woodstock.

The team of Terra Vitae Farms and Porkies has created an annual event for our Playhouse that is an absolute joy to attend and creates a fundraising opportunity that is so important to allow us to continue to support the services we provide our families.

The event, Farmapalooza, is held at the Kelley’s farm.  There are games, pumpkin painting, face painting, baggos competition, live music and more!  Throughout the event there are tours where guests can walk among their pigs, goats, hens and steer while they learn about the animals.  Porkies, with Jakes leading the charge, roasts a whole pig and brings it with all the sides, utensils and dinnerware and feeds everyone throughout the event. This event creates community, with a capital “C”.

The care for what Kevin, Katie and Jakes does in their businesses and their care for GiGI’s and all our families is so obvious. It is for this support, care and love and this creation of Community that we are proud to name them our 2020 GiGi’s Playhouse McHenry County Superheroes and thank them for everything they have done for us, our families and the community.