🌟 Embrace the joy of giving back! 🌟
GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee is searching for vibrant volunteers to add their personal touch to events, fundraising, tutoring, and programs among other areas. Just 1-2 hours per week can create a world of impact! Your energy is the key to the growth and success of GiGi's Playhouse, a place dedicated to...
Event Highlight: Glow Party!
The New Year’s Glow Party was a huge success with all of our attendees! Direct feedback from Ravaughn, “I love this party! And Emily, “This was great!” were both testaments to the fun had by all, much of it a result of the excellent Nicolet High School volunteers (7 total)...
Volunteer Spotlight: Marquette University Occupational Therapy Dept.
Students from Marquette University's College of Health Sciences in the area of Occupational Therapy (OT) facilitated our Fall 2023 GiGi Prep program with an emphasis on building communication skills, money management, customer service skills, team building, health, and personal wellness. Both the participants and volunteers voiced their enthusiasm and appreciation...
Participant Best of All – Myron
“Our 3 y/o son Myron has gained independence, is singing along to more songs, is making more sounds, and is imitating more words. Miss Fiona and Ms. Jen are always coming up with fun activities to keep my son engaged and his sister loves to come along and play.” - Kristy,...
Community Connection – Brillant DPI
On Nov. 16, 2023, GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee had new pictures applied to the Welcome Windows greeting everyone as they walk past and enter GiGi's. The company applying the new pictures was Brillant DPI and owner Chris Sherman was leading the application. Chris, who happens to be a good friend to...
Volunteer Spotlight: Tyler Madoche – Empowering Inclusivity while getting participants GiGiFIT!
We say goodbye this month to Tyler Madoche - our long-time GiGiFIT instructor at Balance Fitness, who came to us in August 2021 and quickly became the heart and soul behind our Adult fitness program. As a certified fitness instructor, Tyler combined his fitness know-how with his warm and welcoming vibe,...
A Deeper Understanding of Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that is often misunderstood. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Down syndrome, elucidating what it is, its types, and the unique characteristics of people living with this condition. It is essential to understand that every person with Down syndrome is unique,...
The Power of Inclusion: Celebrating Local Individuals with Down Syndrome in Swimming
At first glance, swimming may seem like a simple recreational activity or sport, but for individuals with Down syndrome, there is more to it than that. The joys and challenges of swimming on a team also shows the importance of integration and inclusion in sporting activities. It is still not...
Partnership: Roschambo Eyewear & GiGi’s Playhouse Milwaukee
Roshambo Eyewear is excited to be a contributing partner of GiGi’s Playhouse nationwide. In its new program, Roshambo will donate 10% of all sales generated by GiGi’s Playhouse facilities and members back to the non-profit every month. In addition to the donation, Roshambo will also be offering a 20% discount to GiGi’s Playhouse...
GiGi’s Goes to Rainbow Day Camp, 2023
The first week of August, 2023 we took 10 participants of GiGi's Playhouse to Rainbow Day Camp as a guest of the Jewish Community Center (JCC). Our participants spanned the ages of 10-18 and all have Down syndrome. Due to the supports put in place by our volunteers and prior...
Tutoring – A Volunteer’s Perspective
This summer I had the opportunity to tutor a 7-year-old named Miles in literacy. I really enjoyed doing this and I think that the experience was definitely something I would do again. It was a little tricky getting Miles to focus on what we were supposed to do, but after...
Participant Best of All: Baz – How his focus grew this summer.
Leaps and Bounds, I know here we go again, but wait it’s another kid doing great things, showing his Best of All…Seriously, this program has it all for our young learners! There is music for sing-a-longs with sign language to grow our communication skills, obstacle courses of all kinds to...