{"id":142424,"date":"2026-04-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/?p=142424"},"modified":"2026-03-30T23:29:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:29:16","slug":"gala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/2026\/04\/10\/gala\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wonderful 4th Annual Lucky Few Gala: Celebrating GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Orange County"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Honoring the community, volunteers, donors, and participants who make magic happen every day at our 4th annual gala<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Night to Remember<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month was an unforgettable evening for GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Orange County. From the moment guests arrived to the beautiful Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club for the 4th annual Lucky Few Gala, the laughter, energy, and warmth reminded us why this community is so special. Together, we raised $130,000<\/strong>, ensuring our doors stay open, our programs continue to grow, and every program remains free for the families we serve.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Inspiring Words from Our Speakers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brett Ornsby, head coach of the JSerra boys water polo team, shared how his team creates inclusive experiences for our TeenTastic participants. \u201cIt\u2019s about welcoming all teens, no matter their ability,\u201d Brett said. \u201cWhen they join together, everyone grows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Anessa Trujillo gave a heartfelt glimpse into her brother Hayden\u2019s journey through TeenTastic and GiGiFIT Teen. \u201cGiGi\u2019s has given him confidence, friendships, and joy every week,\u201d she shared. Her words reminded everyone why we do this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volunteer of the Year: Amy Ghalwash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people quietly change everything just by showing up. That\u2019s Amy Ghalwash.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Amy has been with GiGi\u2019s since day one, donating over 300 hours<\/strong> to programs, events, and day-to-day support. From setting tables and preparing auction items to helping at every event, she does it all with kindness, humility, and love. \u201cShe may be quiet, but her impact speaks volumes,\u201d said Suzanne, our Executive Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amy\u2019s name will be the first engraved on our new Volunteer of the Year plaque<\/strong>, which will hang in the playhouse for her and all future honorees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donor of the Year: California Foundation for Stronger Communities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Our Donor of the Year, the California Foundation for Stronger Communities, represented by Louis McClure<\/strong>, made a transformational $50,000 unrestricted gift<\/strong> this year. Their generosity allows GiGi\u2019s to say yes to more families and continue offering programs free of charge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough their support, lives are changed, barriers are removed, and opportunity grows,\u201d Suzanne shared. The California Foundation for Stronger Communities has directed over $50 million<\/strong> to nonprofits across California since 2004, and their name will be added to our new Donor of the Year plaque<\/strong> to honor this legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Night Full of Magic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The evening came alive with Kyle Russo<\/strong> as our emcee, backed by his band, The Radd<\/strong>, while Si Herbers<\/strong> captured every moment beautifully. Our event ran seamlessly thanks to the tireless efforts of NCL volunteers<\/strong>, and Michelle Jackson<\/strong>, our committee chair, brought the entire gala to life. This was Michelle\u2019s fourth and final year leading the gala, and her dedication, leadership, and heart made the night unforgettable.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A Community That Gives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every detail, every moment, and every act of generosity reminded us what makes GiGi\u2019s Playhouse extraordinary. From inspiring speakers to heartfelt awards, from music to laughter, every part of the evening reflected the power of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cGiGi\u2019s is a place where participants are seen, heard, and loved,\u201d Suzanne said. \u201cIt is a place where volunteers, donors, families, and friends come together to create lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

We are beyond thankful to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and danced alongside us at this year’s gala. Your generosity ensures that every family who walks through our doors experiences the joy, confidence, and belonging that make GiGi\u2019s a lifeline and a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Orange County<\/a> is more than a place…it is a community. It is a space where individuals with Down syndrome<\/a> and their families are celebrated, supported, and empowered. Every program, event, and activity is designed to build confidence, develop skills, and foster lifelong friendships. Here, participants are seen, heard, and loved for exactly who they are. Volunteers, donors, families, and friends come together to create an environment where kindness meets joy, and every small act makes a lasting difference. GiGi\u2019s is a place where everyone belongs, and everyone thrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Honoring the community, volunteers, donors, and participants who make magic happen every day at our 4th annual gala A Night to Remember Last month was an unforgettable evening for GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Orange County. From the moment guests arrived to the beautiful Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club for the 4th annual Lucky Few Gala,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10334,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,40,52],"tags":[29,10,34,33],"class_list":["post-142424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awareness","category-donors","category-featured-events","tag-awareness","tag-down-syndrome","tag-generous","tag-kindness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10334"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142424\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/orangecounty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}