Leadership Changes at GiGi’s NYC

Hello. Today, I am sharing with you several important leadership changes within the GiGi’s Playhouse NYC Board of Directors.

After 4 years of leading the Board, I am stepping down as President. While I look forward to continue being an involved member of the Board and the GiGi’s NYC community, I am excited to pass on the torch to these talented leaders.

I am pleased to announce the election of Jane Providenti and Yamira Siu as Co-Presidents effective January 1, 2021.

Jane Providenti joined the Board of GiGi’s NYC in 2014 and is the Co-Vice President of the Board and Chair of the Development Committee. Outside of GiGi’s NYC, Jane is a Director within the Global Finance Organization at Deutsche Bank. Jane earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics at William Smith College in Geneva, NY and earned an MBA in Finance from New York University. Jane lives with her three children, Hannah, Troy, and Allison, in Manhattan. Troy has Down syndrome and is 18 years old. Jane has a history of involvement in organizations which support Down syndrome including the LuMind Foundation, NDSS and the Ideal School of Manhattan.

Yamira Siu has been a volunteer with GiGi’s Playhouse NYC since 2012 and joined the Board of GiGi’s NYC in 2019. She is the Co-Vice President of the Board and Chair of the Outreach Committee. Outside of GiGi’s NYC, Yamira is an Executive Assistant to the Head of Global Banking & Advisory at Societe Generale with over 20 years of experience and a Board Member of DiverseAbilities, SG’s Employee Resource Group. She has volunteered for numerous organizations in the Harlem Community such as Figure Skating in Harlem, and America Scores. She is a mother of four children and lives in Harlem, NY. Her son Malik is a member of GiGi’s Playhouse NYC.

I am also pleased to announce that Joyce Gottbetter has been elected as the new Vice President of the Board, effective January 1.

Joyce Gottbetter joined the Board of GiGi’s NYC earlier this year and is the Chair of the Governance Committee. Outside of GiGi’s NYC, Joyce works with Microsoft and leads the sales and technical cloud teams that partner with their US Health and Life sciences customers. Joyce is a graduate of New York University Stern School of Business with an MBA in Marketing and Finance and The Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. Joyce and her husband, Brian, have a daughter, Meredith, and a son, Joshua. Joyce is committed to giving back to her community and is also an active volunteer of New York Cares.

Our participants, their families and the leadership team continually inspire me. Here are a few highlights of our accomplishments during my tenure as Board President, to serve the needs of our NYC community.

• Increasing the variety of programs we offer for individuals with Down syndrome.
• Designing programs to address the needs of our parents/caregivers.
• Transforming our face-to-face programs for online delivery at the onset of the Covid-19

  Pandemic, maintaining community for our participants.

• Reaching and surpassing 1,000, representing the families we serve.
• Launching our Community Chorus, giving voice to those who are often not heard.
• Producing highly attended fashion shows; demonstrating our diverse participants

  owning the runway, breaking barriers.

• Introducing our Gratitude Art Committee to NYC; participating in art shows across the

  city and showcasing the talents of our participants.

• Creating the Gratitude Art Committee Project, installing our artists’ work in businesses

  across NYC, raising funds for GiGi’s NYC.

• Increasing our summer ‘camp’ programs to five weeks, now serving every age group.
• Forming our Associate Board, providing young professionals with board experience

  while contributing to our development efforts.

• Growing our business and sponsor partnerships, bringing increased variety to our

  program content, and expanding our reach across the city and globe.

• Joining forces with the Moyinoluwa Rainbow Foundation, a Down syndrome center in

  Nigeria; to accelerate achieving both of our missions. We are already hearing from

  business partners offering to be involved in this important relationship.

• In 2020 producing our most successful gala to date; streaming live online, grossing 30%

  more than 2019 – breaking our fundraising records.

• Continuing to diversify our donor base to ensure the financial future of GiGi’s NYC.

  I express my sincere thanks to the board of directors and the entire community of GiGi’s NYC. We have adapted to much change over the past months. Together as a team we will continue to redefine Down syndrome, while empowering our participants to belong to the broader community.

  I thank all of you for your enduring support and dedication to GiGi’s NYC. The possibilities are endless. Please join me in congratulating Jane, Yamira, and Joyce on their new roles!

  Best regards,

  

  Frank Sawyer
  Board President GiGi’s Playhouse NYC