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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 for the program with the…
Read MoreParticipant 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, Myron’s mom. Kristy is referring…
Read MoreCommunity 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 a family that attends GiGi’s…
Read MoreVolunteer 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, to create an awesome supportive…
Read MoreThe 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 commonplace to see our friends…
Read MoreGiGi’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 camp coordination, our campers blended…
Read MoreTutoring – 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 trying different ways to get…
Read MoreParticipant 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 get the wiggles out in…
Read MoreNATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK
National Volunteer Week is the third week in April and we want to take the opportunity to THANK all of the volunteers who help to keep our organization running! Volunteers assist us in providing purposeful programs that otherwise would not exist at GiGi’s Playhouse Milwaukee. Volunteers make us smile just as much as the participants…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Molly
Molly has been an MVP over the last year! She co-lead our Leaps and Bounds Program at the Playhouse starting last winter/Spring and has also stepped up to lead GiGiFIT Infants and Toddlers after co-leading it all of 2022. Molly is dedicated to helping our little ones with their movement and gross motor skills! Molly…
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