A Friendsgiving to Remember: Celebrating Community, Gratitude, and Inclusion
On November 17, 2025, GiGi’s Playhouse had the joy of partnering with the Town of Cary’s Specialized Recreation Department to host our very first Friendsgiving celebration—and what a meaningful day it was. This special event brought together 10 GiGi’s adult program participants and 5 participants from the Town of Cary’s...
Spreading Holiday Cheer With SAS: A Partnership That Continues to Shine
There is something truly special about the way the holiday season brings people together, and this year, our friends at SAS proved once again just how powerful community partnerships can be. For the second year in a row, SAS invited our GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh Handbells group to perform at their...
Great Things are Growing Here!
After much planning, the seeds we planted have begun to sprout! Introducing GiGi’s Blooms, our newest participant-run micro-enterprise program — a hands-on entrepreneurial training experience for adults with Down syndrome. Through this project, participants are learning real-world skills in management and operations, design and production, customer service and sales, and...
Dancing Toward Inclusion: My Journey with GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh
When I think about where my values of empathy, kindness, and inclusion began, my heart immediately goes to my grandmother—my Memom. If you asked anyone about her, they’d smile, laugh, and immediately start telling stories. She was the kindest soul, the best listener, and the warmest laugh in any room. Everyone adored her, but for me, she was...
A Gentle Start at GiGi’s: Welcoming Our Newest Little Learners
As many of our long-time “core littles” head off to school, we’re opening our doors to a brand-new generation of families at GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh! To help new parents and babies begin their journey with us, we’re thrilled to introduce A Gentle Start at GiGi’s — a monthly group designed...
A Night to Remember: The 2025 “I Have a Voice” Gala
On October 10th, GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh hosted our annual “I Have a Voice” Gala, and it was truly a night to remember. With 300 guests in attendance, the room was filled with excitement, joy, and an overwhelming sense of community. This event serves as one of our largest celebrations of the...
Small Bites, Big Victories
At GiGi’s Playhouse, we believe that every milestone deserves to be celebrated — no matter how big or small. For 12-year-old Maneet, one of those milestones happened in the most unexpected place: the kitchen. When Maneet joined GiGi’s Kitchen in early 2024, he brought with him a bright smile, a...
Breaking Barriers: Isabella’s Journey with GiGiFit Kids!
This summer, we welcomed a very special new participant to our GiGiFit kids program: a young girl named Isabella. Isabella arrived late in the season, during a time when most of our regular participants were already familiar with the routines, activities, and high energy that GiGiFit is known for. But...
From Volunteer to Future OT: My Summer at GiGi’s Playhouse
Screenshot Screenshot When I think about GiGi’s Playhouse, one word immediately comes to mind: joy. Time and time again, I leave the playhouse with a huge smile on my face. Everyone who walks in the door is immediately surrounded by love and support. The volunteers, staff, and board members are...
Creating Inclusive Opportunities: My Journey with GiGi’s Playhouse
Growing up in South Florida, my best friend had an uncle with severe intellectual disabilities. I watched his mother and grandmother work tirelessly to care for them with dignity and respect. Every Christmas, Uncle Larry would visit. Despite his challenges, to us, he was simply “Uncle Larry.” We’d play with...
Celebrating Creativity: Why Recognizing the Artistic Side of Individuals with Down Syndrome Matters When we think about creativity, most of us imagine painting a canvas, writing a story, or losing ourselves in music. Creativity is part of what makes us human. It’s how we share who we are, how we...
Victory Day with NC State: A Tradition That Fills Our Hearts
Screenshot This past weekend was one of those days that remind us why we do what we do. GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh had the incredible privilege of participating in Victory Day with NC State Football for the seventh year in a row, and words can hardly capture what it meant for...