Our Team
Allison Torrano
Allison was born and raised in northern NJ. She currently lives in Hawthorne with her husband Marc, son Brandon, and her daughter Julia who was born with Down syndrome. Allison has always had a passion for working with kids with different abilities and needs. She spent her childhood years helping to care for her younger siblings, as well as volunteering at group homes and in underprivileged local communities through her youth group. Allison felt called to volunteer at Camp Barnabas in Missouri, which housed campers with developmental and physical disabilities and their siblings, and to serve in Haiti after the earthquake, helping children in a local orphanage. Allison is currently an ABA paraprofessional in a classroom for kids with autism and behavioral challenges, having recently completed a course as a registered behavior technician. Prior to being a paraprofessional, Allison spent over 20 years working as a medical assistant and can understand the medical complexities of raising a child with special needs. Allison is looking forward to seeing a new GiGi’s Playhouse in her area of northern NJ. She is excited for the opportunity for her family, as well as others to have a place of inclusion for all.
Christina Penaloza
Christina’s connection to the Down syndrome community began in her mid-twenties when she started doing international mission work with Mustard Seed Communities. A couple decades later, Down syndrome became even more personal as she and her husband Joel welcomed their third child, Mariana Saint Therese, who has Down syndrome. Mariana was quickly labeled as “the joy” of their family by her older siblings, Gabriela and Benjamin. After working various jobs in finance and accounting, Christina moved on to non-profit organizations, served as a youth minister, and is now ultimately a full-time stay-at-home mom, homeschooling her children and leading classes at two different homeschool co-ops.
Elena Croy
Elena was born and raised in northern New Jersey, a stone’s throw from where she and her husband are raising their two school-aged children. Elena joined the National Down Syndrome Society DS-Ambassador program in 2023 and, alongside her daughter, has advocated annually on Capitol Hill for the needs of the Down syndrome community. She is also a founding member of End Seclusion and Restraint - NJ. For her own enrichment, Elena teaches Sunday School, freelance writes and edits in the disability publishing space, and volunteers her time each week in the regenerative garden of a nearby non-profit equestrian center that serves people with disabilities.
Janine Ehresman
Janine was born and raised in northern NJ where she lives with her daughter, Abigail, and her son, Joel, who has Down syndrome. Janine spent twelve years as a secondary education public school teacher, teaching both general education and inclusion classes. She is passionate about education and inclusion for all students with disabilities. Janine has been a part of a humanitarian aid organization Youth With a Mission and has experience with fundraising and event organization. Janine is currently a stay at home parent, and is in the process of ordination for pastoral counseling through Well Springs Ministries.
Lauren Murphy
I once read that you don’t truly discover your passion until it’s staring you in the face. For me, that moment came when I became a mother — the greatest gift I’ve ever known. But that “why” became even more profound with the birth of my youngest daughter, Mackenzie. Affectionately known as “Mighty Mack,” Mackenzie was born with Down syndrome. From the very beginning, even through health setbacks, she has shown us what true strength and resilience look like. Her light and determination have become the heart of my passion for advocacy and inclusion. Her older brother is also affectionately known in his school for his social advocacy efforts as well, which couldn't make me more proud! Professionally, I’m a seasoned advertising executive at a global agency in New York City. I strive to bridge my personal advocacy with my professional work, seeking opportunities to champion more inclusive and authentic representation in media and advertising. I believe in fostering a world rooted in warmth, understanding, and competence — and in supporting programs that celebrate individuals with Down syndrome while empowering the families who love them.
Lori Karg
Lori grew up in New Jersey and spent her career assisting children with special needs meet their greatest potential before raising her own family with her husband, Larry. She has worked as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and literacy coach to various support staff and administrators, assisting in intervention, remediation and inclusion. Lori has three young adult stepsons and four biological children, currently living at home. The Karg family was blessed in 2016 with their youngest child, John Paul, JP, who was born with Down syndrome. Having had some experience with new beginnings in the past—working during a charter school’s start-up years and creating and running a mom’s ministry at her church—Lori is very excited to assist in creating a nurturing, fun, inclusive space like GiGi’s for the Down syndrome community in northern New Jersey.
Matthew Croy
Matt is the proud father of Hope, a spirited lady with Down syndrome, and Henry, her younger brother. He is a strong supporter of the National Down Syndrome Society and inclusion and believes that GiGi’s fills a notable gap in the region in addressing the social needs of our community. He is very excited, along with family and friends, to be a part of the creation of a Playhouse that provides an open, caring, and welcoming environment closer to our area. Matt’s career has consisted of a mix of entrepreneurial engineering, consulting, and finance ventures, and he is very excited about the prospect of applying his efforts to create a wonderful, shared space for this great community. He is an enthusiastic cook, a mountaineer, and a cancer survivor.
Paulina Vargas
I immigrated to the United States from Ecuador after high school. I’m a proud mother of two young men, a preteen boy, and a daughter with Down syndrome, who has been my greatest inspiration. Her presence opened my heart and led me to support other families of children with special needs, especially in underserved communities. My advocacy journey began to ensure no parent felt alone. That passion brought me to work with SPAN, the Parent Advocacy Network, and the Migrant Education Project (MEP), helping address the unique needs of migrant children and their families. Supporting families, especially those with children with Down syndrome, is not just what I do; it’s who I am. I work to improve the systems serving our children and create spaces where every voice is heard and valued. Outside work, I enjoy traveling with my family, exploring new foods, meditating, and reading.