Have a Ball with GiGi’s
You are cordially invited to join us on Saturday, October 18th, for our annual fundraising gala. We will have a ball and hope you’ll join us!
Doors open at 5:30 pm for cocktail hour, followed by the program at 6:30 pm. The evening will feature inspiring words from our special guests, entertainment by GiGi’s participants, and plenty of surprises along the way. Together, we’ll raise vital funds to ensure GiGi’s can continue providing FREE purposeful programs for individuals with Down syndrome here in the Quad Cities.
Andrew Stutzke, WQAD
Meteorologist Andrew Stutzke, a Quad Cities native from Sterling, Illinois, is intimately acquainted with the Midwest’s ever-changing weather patterns. Growing up, he developed a fascination for weather, particularly thunderstorms, at a young age. This passion led him to pursue a degree in Meteorology from Northern Illinois University after completing his Associate of Science at Sauk Valley Community College.
Andrew’s meteorological journey included an internship at WHBF-TV, spending two years as a Weekend Meteorologist at WIFR-TV in Rockford, Illinois, and eventually brought him “home” to WQAD in 2018. He earned recognition as a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist from the American Meteorological Society in 2021. Beyond forecasting, Andrew is a certified drone pilot who loves exploring the Quad Cities area from above. In his leisure, he enjoys listening to Alternative Rock and Indie music, hiking with his Golden Retriever, Cooper, and spending quality time with loved ones.
In addition to having Andrew as the emcee, WQAD has partnered with us this year as the media sponsor. You will see ads on TV, social media, and their website.
Nathan Bates, Executive Director of GiGi’s Playhouse Quad Cities & Gavin, too
We’re thrilled to have Nathan Bates as the new Executive Director here at GiGi’s Playhouse Quad Cities! Nate has jumped right into his leadership role and is excited to help guide the Playhouse into the future.
He will be joined by his son, Gavin—a familiar face (and voice!) at GiGi’s. Gavin loves being behind the microphone and is always eager to share his joy with others. Together, Nate and Gavin will be taking the stage to talk about how they’ve each been “having a ball” this year—Nate as he’s gotten acclimated to his new role, and Gavin through his many experiences as a GiGi’s participant.
If you haven’t had the chance to meet Nate yet, be sure to check out our previous blog post introducing him, linked here.
Matt & Kathy Karstens, Amelia’s Parents
Amelia is a familiar face at GiGi’s Playhouse, where she jumps into a wide variety of programs with joy and enthusiasm. Since she’s under 13, a parent usually joins her—and often one or both of her older sisters come along too! For the family, GiGi’s is truly a team effort.
Matt and Kathy are grateful for the many programs GiGi’s provides and love watching Amelia thrive in such a welcoming environment. Recently, Amelia was even featured as a #BestOfAll story on our blog linked here, celebrating her growth and accomplishments.
Anna & Abby, GiGi’s Board Member and GiGi’s Participant
Abby and Anna are truly inseparable, and together they bring so much heart to GiGi’s Playhouse.
Anna, a dedicated board member, is always among the first to step up and volunteer—especially when it comes to outreach and raising awareness about Down syndrome and the Playhouse in the community.
Abby, like Amelia, loves participating in many of our programs. She also shines as a volunteer, warmly greeting guests at special events and joining her mom in outreach activities.
This inspiring duo leads by example, showing what it means to give back, stay involved, and spread the Playhouse mission wherever they go!
Auctioneer – Jon Bloomberg with Bloomberg Auctions
Jon and his crew are back again this year to facilitate the live auction portion of this event. They are always entertaining! They are also very generous as they donate their time and talents to the evening. Come ready to bid on some amazing auction items, including a trip to the Breathless Riviera All-Inclusive Resort. The auction is a huge part of our fundraising efforts. You do need to be present for the live auction but you can bid from anywhere during the online silent auction. We’ll share the link to that auction lineup in mid-October.
We’re currently accepting auction items. Let us know what you’d like to donate by completing the form found here.
SAS DJ
We have an all-new DJ as part of our event this year! Send us your requests now, and we will work on building the dance playlist for the evening. 🎵
GiGi’s Dancers & Entertainment
Our dancers are hard at work learning their routines for the night. They LOVE sharing their talents with us. Their performances will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Many thanks to the dance leader, Maddie, snd program assistants for volunteering their time to make this possible.
Kate Holsen will also be on stage again this year to share her beautiful voice and talent with us.
The GiGi’s Rock Band will also perform. They will kick off the evening and close us down, too!
Infinity Photography & Snap Wagon Photobooth
📷 Nicole with Infinity Photography is also back this year. We will also have a special photo booth opportunity using our royal backdrop and the Snap Wagon Selfie Station.
Sponsors
This event is made possible thanks to many generous sponsors!
The top sponsors for 2025 are SSAB and United Healthcare.
Thank you to all the sponsors for believing in the GiGI’s mission and supporting this event.
Rhythm City Casino
We can’t thank Rhythm City Casino enough for their partnership to make this event possible. Many of the items you will see at the event are being loaned to us at no cost as in-kind donations. The staff are great to work with, and we know you’ll enjoy the atmosphere. PLUS, there are discounted rooms for the night.
Visit the FAQ page to learn more about reserving your room.
Register or Donate Here
Click on the banner or visit this link
Registration closes October 5, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
FAQ
Visit the event registration page linked here for some frequently asked questions.
Volunteers
This event is not possible without volunteers. Many volunteers are needed leading up to the event and the night of, too. Visit the link here to learn more about volunteering for this crucial fundraising event. The gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we need your help!
There is also a volunteer committee that helps plan the event, and we appreciate their time and dedication.
Gala Planning Committee
- Meribeth Johnson, Board Member
- Carissa Hassebrock
- Tim Gulbranson
- Heather Matzen
- Mary Kilburg
- Jackie Hassebrock
- Pam Lynch, Site Director
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