June 2025 Best of All

The highlights below are just a few of the #bestofall moments we witnessed this month. Sometimes it’s hard to choose what we highlight, especially when one of our large events takes place and we’re overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation!

Participant Best of All

This summer is Caleb’s first time attending Music Makers Kids. A few weeks ago, he preferred to watch and listen to the group as they created music. During the most recent session, he felt comfortable enough to fully and joyfully participate in strumming the ukulele, tapping the beat with rhythm sticks, and playing limbo! At the end of the session, he started a game of catch, leading his friends (and all of the volunteers) in playing together! Caleb is showing how having the time and space to engage at his own pace can lead to amazing growth! #bestofall

Volunteer Spotlight

Deb Anderson has been a long-time volunteer for our daytime adult programs. When she saw the need for a math tutor this summer, she stepped up and volunteered for that too. Even though she was nervous, she did her training and jumped right in with two feet. And just a couple of weeks, she has bonded with her student and is excited every time she comes in to prep her lessons. Together, Deb and Vada are adding fun to their math lessons, and that doesn’t subtract from any of the learning.

#belikeDeb and become a tutor! Applications for the fall 2025 are now open! Visit the one-on-one programs section of our website to learn more.

Playhouse Inspiration

Our annual GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge – Superhero Run & Walk is always an inspiration. Every year, it amazes us to see the sheer amount of support the community and families show for our playhouse and the families that we serve. Our recap blog of this event can be seen here.

PLUS, in June we have two different classrooms choose GiGi’s to benefit from donation drives!

Thank you to our friends at Virgil Grissom Elementary in Princeton, Iowa. They thought of GiGi’s with their donations from Project Jack. The Lindaman family started the project Jack in honor of their son Jack, who passed away from a genetic disorder. Each class was given $250 to pay it forward in Jack’s Honor, and they purchased items from our Amazon wishlist to support our programs and events.

Many thanks to the Riverdale Heights 6th grade Extended Learning Program (ELP)! Every year, during their unit on leadership, they donate to a local charity. This year, they popped into action and collected popcorn for GiGi’s. We will have popcorn for programs, participants, volunteers, and events for a long time! Why popcorn? They saw popcorn on our Amazon wishlist, and it was a fun way to get the students excited and involved. Plus, who doesn’t like popcorn?

YOU can submit your Best of All stories and moments too!

Staff typically choose these stories, but we’d love to hear from you too! If you see or hear something worth highlighting, please let us know!

309-762-7529 or email quadcities@gigisplayhouse.org

#bestofall