Volunteer Spotlight: Genna Z.

We get goosebumps every time we welcome a volunteer who is truly committed, someone eager to learn more about our community and build meaningful relationships with our participants and families. Enter Genna Z., our youngest active volunteer at just about 16 years old. Genna is 16 going on 30, remarkably mature, dependable, and always eager to help in any way she can at programs and special events.

Throughout 2025, Genna has been a consistent and dedicated presence in our Adult GiGi’s Kitchen and GiGiFIT programs. She has built strong, trusting relationships with our participants, who clearly adore her, greeting her with big smiles, regular high fives, and eagerly listening to her guidance during each session. This connection allows Genna to engage in productive, encouraging, and respectful interactions throughout programming. In GiGi’s Kitchen, she often supports our male participants by motivating them to try new foods and guiding them as they develop new cooking skills.

In GiGiFIT, Genna brings positive energy and patience, helping participants stay focused, confident, and motivated while modeling exercises, offering encouragement, and celebrating individual successes. Her ability to connect with participants and meet them where they are makes her an invaluable part of our programming and a role model well beyond her years.

We are incredibly grateful and feel so lucky to have Genna as part of our GiGi’s Playhouse Milwaukee family. Her commitment, reliability, and generous donation of time make a lasting impact on our participants, families, and staff alike. We cannot thank her enough for the dedication and heart she brings to every program she supports.

Volunteers like Genna are the heart of GiGi’s Playhouse Milwaukee, they make our programs possible and help create a welcoming, empowering community for our participants and families. If you are interested in volunteering and making a meaningful impact, please contact [email protected] to learn more.