Giving Thanks in 2020

This month we’ve been sharing Giving Thanks posts from families. We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing what they are thankful for.

2020 has been a challenging year for many including all of us here at GiGi’s Playhouse Quad Cities. From staff working at home this spring, board meetings and programs being done virtually, canceling programs and events, and so much more, it’s been a rollercoaster of changing, adapting, and overcoming obstacles. With all of the challenges, there are still many things to be thankful for.

We’re thankful that our families have continued to participate in programs virtually, volunteers are still willing to help in any way they can, donors are still able and willing to support our Playhouse and the programs we provide, and the board is still hard at work each month making the hard decisions to keep our Playhouse going.

Each year we host two large fundraisers that help ensure our Playhouse remains operational, spreads awareness, and celebrates our friends with Down syndrome. This year both of those events were taken to the virtual world. We were not sure how they would go and we were blown away by all of the support! There were tears shed, happy tears, grateful tears, and tears of absolute joy seeing all the support from families and supporters during both of these events. We give thanks to all of you for being the bright spot this year.

With all of that support, we were able to continue offering many of the regularly scheduled programs virtually but we also piloted new programs. GiGiFIT for adults, kids, toddlers, and GiGi’s Kitchen for kids, teens, and adults were all new to our Playhouse this year and that is thanks to YOU. These programs along with all programs here at GiGi’s are free for families and they help introduce fitness, healthy eating, and lifelong skills.

We are so thankful for all the kindness, generosity, and acceptance that has been shown to us during this most unusual year.

We are looking forward to a great 2021 and hope you will join us.

If you’re interested in learning more about being a board member or getting more involved as a volunteer in the coming year, please let us know.

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