Hope in Motion

How City of Hope Is Helping Participants Build Strength, Independence, and Confidence

At GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County, we believe every individual deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, confident, and independent life. Achieving that vision requires more than passion and dedication. It requires partners who believe in possibility and are willing to invest in creating opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome to reach their fullest potential. Through the Healthy Living Grant, City of Hope has become one of those partners, helping transform lives and strengthen our Playhouse community in meaningful and lasting ways.

The impact of City of Hope’s support extends far beyond the purchase of equipment or improvements to our facility. Their investment represents a commitment to health, wellness, inclusion, and empowerment. By supporting GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County, City of Hope has helped create opportunities for participants to develop physical strength, emotional resilience, self-confidence, and independence while building skills that extend into everyday life.

One of the most visible outcomes of this partnership can be seen through the growth of our GiGiFIT program. As GiGi’s Playhouse’s signature fitness program, GiGiFIT is designed specifically for individuals with Down syndrome and focuses on improving strength, balance, coordination, endurance, and overall wellness. Since opening our doors in 2022, participation in GiGiFIT has grown dramatically. What began with just 14 participant hours in 2022 expanded to an incredible 1,930 participant hours in 2025. This growth reflects both the demand for quality fitness programming and the tremendous benefits participants experience through movement-based learning.

As our programs expanded, so did the need for additional resources. The Healthy Living Grant allowed us to purchase adaptive fitness equipment specifically selected to support participants of all ages and abilities. Balance pads, Bala Bangles, weighted vests, Pilates rings, yoga mats, Flex Twist Bars, folding mats, and portable handrails have enhanced the safety and effectiveness of our programming. These tools help participants strengthen muscles, improve coordination, increase stability, and develop greater body awareness while building confidence through achievement and success.

The grant’s impact reaches beyond physical fitness. Recognizing that health and wellness involve both body and mind, City of Hope’s support also enhanced our sensory and emotional wellness resources. Noise-reducing headphones, emotion cushions, and an interactive sensory wall provide participants with valuable tools to self-regulate, remain engaged, and feel comfortable in a variety of learning and fitness environments. These resources help create an inclusive space where every participant can thrive according to their individual needs.

Creating a safe and welcoming environment is equally important. Funding from the grant supported the addition of sanitation stations, secure storage cabinets, security cameras, and CPR training equipment. These improvements strengthen our ability to provide a safe, organized, and professional environment for participants, families, volunteers, and staff. Every enhancement contributes to a stronger foundation for growth and success.

Perhaps most exciting is the role this investment will play in shaping the future of GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County. The new equipment and resources will support the launch of GiGiMOVE Kids, expand opportunities within our Teen and Adult fitness programs, and create new possibilities for nutrition education and healthy living initiatives. These additions ensure that participants continue to have access to innovative programs that support lifelong wellness and independence.

The benefits of the Healthy Living Grant extend even further. By strengthening our programs and infrastructure, City of Hope has helped position GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County to attract additional funding, partnerships, and community support. Their investment has created momentum that will continue to generate opportunities for years to come.

At GiGi’s Playhouse, we celebrate every participant’s “best of all.” City of Hope shares that same belief in human potential. Through their generosity and vision, they have become far more than a grant partner. They have become a true champion of Playhouse possibilities. Their investment in health, wellness, and opportunity is already creating meaningful change today and will continue inspiring growth, confidence, and achievement for countless participants in the years ahead.