Thank You For an Amazing 2020 “I Have a Voice” Gala!

The annual “I Have a Voice” Gala & Auction is GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville’s most important fundraiser of the year, historically raising more than half of our annual operating budget and ensuring that we can continue to provide a range of therapeutic and educational programs at NO cost to families each year. But more than just a fundraiser, it is a night of inspiration and celebration, highlighting many of the stories of growth and life-change that happened at GiGi’s over the previous year and looking ahead to how we will continue to expand that impact in the future.

This year’s Gala took place on February 1st, and was an AMAZING success! Nearly 400 people dressed to the nines and came together at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center to make a huge difference. The night started with a cocktail hour and silent auction that was made possible by 88 individuals and companies donating goods and services and cocktails donated by Lipman Brothers. Dinner kicked off next with a presentation of our “Gloria and Cindy Knoch Volunteer Spirit Award,” which was presented to Elise Hirt for her tireless work as a volunteer program leader for multiple programs and countless other ways she is supporting the Down syndrome community of middle Tennessee.

After a thrilling live auction, new GiGi’s board president Sean Farrell gave the keynote presentation for the evening. Opening up about his journey parenting a son with Down syndrome–for a time as a single father–Sean testified to the joy that his son’s diagnosis has now brought to their family and the difference that GiGi’s Playhouse has made in their lives since moving to Nashville. Attendees were then invited to make a donation to make sure that more families across middle Tennessee could receive these services than ever before, and followed up that moving moment of generosity by dancing the night away to live music from The Remedies.

As a result of this event, we are thrilled to share that over $200,000 was raised to support the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville! We are humbled by and deeply grateful for all of the individuals and companies who contributed their time, talents, and treasures to make this event possible, and can’t wait to use these funds to empower individuals with Down syndrome and their families this year to be their “Best of All!”

We want to take one more opportunity to offer a special thank you to The Brett Boyer Foundation, our Presenting Sponsor for the event and an organization doing awe-inspiring work to raise awareness and funds for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and to advocate for those with Down syndrome everywhere. Thank you also to all of our sponsors, volunteers, and those who contributed toward making the event such a success!