100% of GiGi’s programs are FREE to families and are therapeutic or educational in nature. Whether the focus is gross motor skills, fine motor skills, social development, speech and language, or fitness, every program at GiGi’s Playhouse is purposeful and progressive. We focus on the needs specific to the Down syndrome community and teach in the way they learn best.
Amazon Wish List
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Amazon Playhouse Wish List. Link to: Amazon Wishlist: https://a.co/iBKbc05
Amazon Auction Item Wish List. Link to: Amazon Wishlist: https://a.co/8crrlbP
Support GiGi’s Playhouse Programs – Items Needed!
One Time Purchases:
- Storage shelves from the Container Store (donation of $1,000-$500)
- GiGiFIT Fitness Equipment (stretchy bands, 6 & 8 LBS weighted balls, 1-5 LBS hand weights, yoga mats)
- Down Syndrome World annual subscription $300
- Boom Whackers Set
- Tall Bongo Drum Set (for use when seated)
- Gathering Drum
- Toddler Balance Bike
- 10-Foot Parachute Play Tent
Annual Purchases:
- New small-sized “prize” items to give away at resource fairs
- Gift cards to give to volunteers or use at fundraising events
- Blank sympathy cards
- Art supplies (watercolor paper, dry erase markers, single color construction paper-blue, red, green)
Monthly Purchases (could be purchased in bulk):
- Stamps (2025 monthly cost of $36.50)
- Juice boxes, bubbly water, soda, lemonade (cans)
- Individually wrapped snack food (gluten free, sugar free, healthy, etc.)
- Boxes of tissues
- Parchment paper, Ziplock bags
- Paper plates, bowls & cups (4oz, 12oz)
- Plastic silverware
- Hand soap (foaming or liquid)
- Dish towels & dish cloths (darker colors)
- Clear packaging tape
- Post-it notes (all sizes), Pop-up style 3”x3”
- Corrective paper tape
- 1 Ream white xerox paper monthly
- Toilet paper
- Paper towel rolls
- Paper hand towels (pop-up style)
- Plastic table covers
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Hydrogen peroxide spray
How Your Support Makes a Difference
Through free programs and our Generation G Campaign for global acceptance, we EMPOWER families by maximizing opportunities for daily achievement and lasting acceptance. To accomplish this, we must show the world what individuals with Down syndrome are truly capable of achieving as students, co-workers, volunteers, friends, and valued members of their communities. Our program outcomes help advance this important goal.
To Help More Families, We Must:
- Meet the demand with new locations and expansions (Startups, expansions, satellite opportunities))
- Celebrate and welcome new births
- EXPAND free programming to serve more families
- Grow career training
- Train volunteers - Become a volunteer: https://gigisplayhouse.org/milwaukee/volunteer/
- Teach the world ACCEPTANCE
Requests for Flat Dollar Amounts that Address All Programs Collectively
ONE-ON-ONE PROGRAMS
IMPACT: Our FREE one on one programs in literacy, math, and speech therapy all use methodologies with documented success based on research by professionals in each field and hands-on learnings from across our entire GiGi’s Playhouse Network. The demand continues to grow for these high-impact programs, as family members attend each lesson and leave with practical activities to continue learning at home.
- LITERACY: The ability to read opens doors for individuals with Down syndrome in the workplace, schools, and the community. Offered 3x per year in Milwaukee.
- Per student per lesson: $21
- One student for a session (12 weeks): $250
- 10 students for a session: $2,500
- MATH: We teach students to apply math skills with meaningful and relevant real-world experiences, from sorting and number sense through graphing and algebra. Offered 3x per year in Milwaukee.
- Per student per lesson: $30
- One student for a session (12 weeks): $360
- 10 students for a session: $3,600
- AMINA GRACE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY: Effective pronunciation, clarity of speech, word order and message meaning are paramount to fostering greater self-confidence, comprehension, problem-solving, school readiness, social skills, independence, and overall quality of life. Offered 2x per year in Milwaukee.
- Per student per lesson: $75
- One student for a session (12 weeks): $1,000
- To launch a new program for 5 students for 1 year: $15,000 (we are looking to add Teens & Adults)
- One 12-week session for 16 students: $15,000
HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS
IMPACT: GiGi’s delivers critical health and wellness programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, addressing low muscle tone, joint laxity, and promoting wellness through nutrition and building self-confidence! Your donation will provide teaching, training, and materials for wellness-based programming led by trained paid staff where we proactively track impact in a 10-12-week enrollment-based session and build a cohesive community and social group in the session. Offered 3x per year in Milwaukee.
- Materials and instruction for one GiGiFIT or GiGi Kitchen student per class: $40
- Support one student for a 12-week GiGiFIT or GiGi’s Kitchen session: $500
- A 12-week session of one of our Health & Wellness programs for 10 participants: $5,000
- Support GiGiFIT or GiGi Kitchen for one-year post-launch (10 students per session): $15,000
Programs in this category include:
- GIGIFIT: Our GiGiFIT program enhances physical fitness through programs for each age group! Babies build core strength, toddlers build coordination and balance, and teens and adults build muscle tone and a lifetime habit of physical therapy and fitness. GiGiFIT helps build strength, endurance, power, joint stability, balance, movement control, and confidence.
- GIGI KITCHEN: Designed to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle and early exposure to practical cooking skills, participants in three different age groups (kids, teens, adults) engage in activities under the guidance of trained program leaders. These activities promote healthy eating habits, kitchen safety awareness, food preparation skills, self-confidence, and social skills by applying learned skills as they prepare and enjoy a shared meal or snack. The GiGi’s Kitchen programs are truly life changing!!
CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
IMPACT: Confident U. Healthy U. Whole U. At GiGi’s Playhouse, we prepare the whole person for their adult life. Career-based programming, as well as tracks for those not ready or interested in a career, are all designed to meet adult participants where they are, and to take them where they want to go! This can mean community engagement, volunteerism, job opportunities, or even fostering entrepreneurial opportunities! GiGi’s adult programs are application-based and taught by trained paid staff. They motivate adults with Down syndrome to achieve their highest potential in the world through innovative goal-development, career-development, small group skills instruction, and exceptional work opportunities! These programs also incorporate health and wellness, empowerment, and overall wellness!
- Per student per day: $100
- Support one participant in their 10- to 15-week program: $1,000
- Support one session of one Career Development Program: $10,000
Programs in this category include:
- ACHIEVERS – The Achievers program has an emphasis on building communication skills, money management, customer service skills, team building, and health & wellness over a 10-week session made up of 2-days per week of instructional learning. This program is a skills-based program with high expectations to motivate adults with Down syndrome to ACHIEVE new skills.
- GIGI UNIVERSITY – GiGiU is a comprehensive and progressive instructional learning program tailored specifically for adults with Down syndrome. It is comprised of a 15-week session made up of 3 days per week in the Playhouse. GiGi U is designed for motivated adults with Down syndrome to achieve their highest potential in the real world while developing their abilities in the areas of personal accountability, communication, and career skills with emphasis on job interviewing, money management, public speaking, customer service, computer skills, team building and health.
- GIGI PROFESSIONAL - Whether it’s a retail environment, a design studio, a production space, or an office, GiGi’s career internship programs are built on the skills learned in GiGi U with practical applications and the achievement of certifications. During each 13-week internship, participants will purposefully progress through certifications learning and demonstrating strengths and interests in transferable job skills, building their resume for placement in a job or volunteer position in the community.
DROP-IN PROGRAMS:
IMPACT: Drop-in programs provide families the opportunity to fit GiGi’s Playhouse programs into their busy lives, participating as often as they choose, and they can start at any time! Like all programs, GiGi’s drop-in programs are always purposeful, progressive, focus on educational and therapeutic goals, and invite the entire family!
- Materials for one class: $20
- Support one drop-in program for one month: $500
- Support one drop-in program for one year: $5,000
Examples of drop-in programs include:
- LMNOP – An interactive and engaging program designed to guide parents and young children through learning basic sign language and other forms of communication using music and language-based activities. Recommended for ages newborn to 36 months and their caregivers.
- KIDS CLUB – Supports the development of social skills and language through peer-to-peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. This program will also support gross motor skills through active games, fine motor and self-help skills through meal/snack preparation and activities. Recommended for 8–12-year-olds and their caregivers.
- DESTINATION DISCOVERY - Play = Fun + Learning! Destination Discovery supports the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills and language through purposeful play and peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting across all age groups. This program also brings families together to share experiences and build relationships.
- TEEN TASTIC - Focuses on building social skills with friends with and without Down syndrome by participating in team-based activities in a casual and fun setting. Skill development includes understanding compromise, turn-taking and problem-solving abilities. Recommended for 13 – 17-year-olds.
- FANTASTIC FRIENDS - A fun night out to facilitate social interactions between adults with Down syndrome, their peers, and the community. Supports the development of social skills and language through peer-to-peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. All adults welcome from ages 18 and up.
Requests for Flat Dollar Amounts that Address All Programs Collectively
$100,000+
Founding Partner and Sustaining Partnership
IMPACT: Your sustaining partnership sends an undeniable message to all families, volunteers, future donors and community members that GiGi’s Playhouse is worthy of their investment. Whether they are investing their time for their loved ones with Down syndrome, giving their talent as a volunteer, contributing financially, or look to GiGi’s for a source for their future employees, all will follow the lead of the Founding Partners as the true believers in the GiGi’s mission. You will send a message of credibility, enable sustainability, and reinforce our lifetime commitment to families.
Staffing
IMPACT: Support a year or more of staffing and benefits costs. GiGi’s Playhouse is 99% volunteer-run, but the staff tie it all together by coordinating volunteers, welcoming families, tracking participant data, acting as the face of the playhouse to the community and so much more! Staff at GiGi’s support volunteer training and engagement, deliver marketing to promote programs and impact, and ensure each donor dollar is maximized to serve the Down syndrome community.
$50,000+
Playhouse Buildout – YES- HELP UP EXPAND!
IMPACT: Help support a Playhouse build-out and furnishings for our expansion. GiGi’s Playhouse offers a physical brick and mortar place – a place to learn, a place to grow, a place to celebrate, and a place to know you're not alone. By underwriting our buildout, you will be changing the way an entire community views Down syndrome and creating a bright celebratory environment of learning, acceptance, and belief for all who enter.
$25,000
#GenerationG & Marketing
IMPACT: Be accepting. Be generous. Be kind. That is the message of Generation G. The GiGi’s mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and send a global message of acceptance for all. Help us fulfill that mission in this community through awareness campaigns, outreach, and marketing materials. Awareness materials include national calendars, beautiful banners, mobile galleries, and information packets for parents, educators, and potential employers of individuals with Down syndrome.
$15,000
Café G Kitchen – We are looking to upgrade and remodel this space to make it even more accessible and supportive for the needs of our Playhouse and group programs and events!
IMPACT: This beautiful teaching kitchen will provide the opportunity for individuals to learn skills to promote independence and enjoy the pleasure of cooking for themselves and others. The kitchen is a perfect place for socializing, real-world learning, and math skills! Occupational and developmental therapy are key components of this area too, including kitchen safety & sanitation, knife skills, manners, and sharing a meal.
GiGiFIT Gym and Supplies
IMPACT: We are all about staying healthy! Our participants have low muscle tone, a slower metabolism and many other physical challenges that make a workout much harder for them. Providing a fun environment and physical therapy-based programs like GiGiFIT make it fun, effective and a great social experience! Just as someone with diabetes needs insulin, individuals with DS need fitness and gross motor activity to engage their muscles and combat the impact of low muscle tone very proactively. Without a strong core, speech is extremely challenging. Individuals with Down syndrome need GiGiFIT from as early as 3 months and must continue it throughout life!
$5,000
Family Gathering Space - Upgrades
IMPACT: The couch is the place of comfort for new parents coming to GiGi’s for the first time. Often this is the first-time parents hear the words “Congratulations!” Parents can take it all in, share their journey, fears and hopes. The family room is also a place for parents to network, observe and share experiences, build acceptance, and find mentors. The group nature of GiGi’s Playhouse shows parents that that their child has an amazing opportunity to achieve their greatest potential.
Therapeutic Play Area - Upgrades
IMPACT: Children and teenagers with Down syndrome participate in therapeutic play and activities with a variety of equipment, toys, and manipulatives to develop motor skills, language skills, and social skills while interacting with their peers and siblings.
Playhouse Training and Support
IMPACT: We are 99% volunteer run! Training staff and volunteers takes time and resources, and we’ll gain lots of assistance from the GiGi’s National Office to get this done, but it is not free to execute. For our staff, board members, and key volunteers, the GiGi’s Annual Leadership Conference is pivotal for training, networking, and gaining inspiration from the 60+ other locations and startups. Help us send 3-6 team members to this multi-day event!
$2,500
IT Safety and Security
IMPACT: Purchasing hardware and software that makes our programs more productive, effective, and secure, protecting our individuals and families in physical playhouses and in the virtual environment. Our business model of operating as a 99% volunteer run organization brings additional challenges with cybersecurity beyond those challenges every corporation faces. With 1000s of volunteers accessing our email, shared drives, Learning Management system, social media channels and more, security and protection is further complicated by our volunteers operating in the BYOD, “bring your own device”, scenario combined with telework access. We have a constant need to educate our staff and volunteers on software, downloading, phishing emails and individual roles and responsibilities on sharing GiGi’s business information online and to provide cyber security protection software solutions.
Technology Equipment
IMPACT: Help our Playhouse run smoothly and safely with up-to-date technology. We need computers for staff and volunteers, and 1-2 TV monitors to inform and train parents, volunteers, donors, and community members. In addition, a security system with video cameras helps to keep participants and volunteers safe. Our music system is essential in providing a welcoming and celebratory feel at the playhouse.
- Technology used for virtual & in-person learning:
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Hot spots
- Learning apps
$1,000
New Parent Education and Celebration Packets
IMPACT: The more we extend into diverse populations, the more we see a need for increased parent education to support new families and those who come to this diagnosis with little support. Celebration packets are beautiful packages for new families (new to GiGi’s and/or new to having a child with Ds) with special gifts and information on Down syndrome and their local Playhouse activities, programs, and ways to connect. They provide critical support from the GiGi’s Playhouse network and a connection to resources to help ensure our families are never alone in their journey. This further extends and honors our lifetime commitment to our families!
Community Awareness Event
IMPACT: Support a community awareness event for new families, volunteers and/or prospective donors to show people what the Playhouse is all about and the impact it makes on families, volunteers and community members.
$500
Volunteer Appreciation Event
IMPACT: Our programs are FREE to our families but not free to administer so we rely heavily on our volunteers to run programs, help with administrative tasks, clean and everything in between. We would not exist without volunteer support and love to show our gratitude through volunteer appreciation events and gifts.
Essential Supplies
IMPACT: Help us provide mission critical ongoing school, office, kitchen, cleaning, and gym supplies, as well as food for program snacks, baby wipes, and outreach marketing materials.