Why GiGi’s – Allison’s Story

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.