Gala 2024

Join us on National Meet New Friends Day (October 19, 2024) for our annual fundraising gala. In honor of this day and all the friendships formed here at GiGi’s, the event is FRIENDS-themed this year and we can’t wait for the Central Perk-Coffee Pull.

Doors will open at 5:30 pm for cocktail hour with the program beginning at 6:30. We will enjoy hearing from the special guests below, entertainment from GiGi’s participants, and so much more. All while raising funds to allow GiGi’s to continue offering FREE purposeful programs for individuals with Down syndrome 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.

Jeff Coussens, Penguin Project of the Quad Cities

Jeff Coussens is the Executive Director of the Penguin Project of the Quad Cities and Co-Chair of the Department of Theatre & Film at Augustana College. During his 40 year career as a theatre educator, he has taught both undergraduate and graduate classes in Acting, Directing, Producing, and Stage Combat. He has also acted in over fifty roles and directed over 75 productions in various educational and professional performance venues, including film, video, and voice-over work. Jeff is a member of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the Illinois Theatre Association, the Theatre Communications Group, and the Society of American Fight Directors. Recently Jeff’s interest in using theatre as a tool for social change has led him to teach in the Augustana Prison Education Program at East Moline Correctional Center. His long-time interest in making theatre accessible to disenfranchised populations became the catalyst for founding the Penguin Project of the Quad Cities.

Dino & Tina Hayz, Center of Living Arts & Penguin Project

Dino and Tina Hayz are the owners of the Center for Living Arts in Rock Island. They are just entering their nineteenth season of offering youth theatre experiences to the community. Prior to opening the Center, Dino received his BA in Music and Theatre from Marycrest College and has been doing theatre in the Quad City area for over thirty-five years. Tina received her BA in Elementary Education from Concordia College and has taught children for over twenty-five years. Dino and Tina are co-directors for the Penguin Project of the Quad Cities.

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 tickets to Disneyland! 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.

Twisted Mics

Twisted Mics is back for the 4th time as the DJ for the night. Send us your requests now and we will work on building the dance playlist for the evening. They donate the majority of their time and talents for the evening. You can thank them by hitting the dance floor! 🎵

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 for volunteering their time over 5 weeks to work with these groups.

Kate Holsen will also be on stage again this year to share her beautiful voice and talent with us.

Infinity Photography & TSS Photography

📷 Nicole with Infinity Photography is also back this year. We will also have someone from TSS Photography taking pictures that will be immediately sent to your phones. This was hit last year and at the Superhero Run too.

Sponsors

This event is made possible thanks to many generous sponsors!

The top sponsors are SSAB, RDA (Regional Development Authority), 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.

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

• Hilary Oliver, Chair
• Meribeth Johnson
• Carissa Hassebrock
• Tim Gulbranson
• Heather Matzen
• Mary Kilburg
• Jenny Juehring
• Pam Lynch, Site Director

Photos from the 2023 Gala can be seen here.