“Thank you, GiGi’s Playhouse, for being a community that inspires.”

“Thank you, GiGi’s Playhouse, for being a community that inspires.”

Hello, GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh!  My name is Ashley Schoenfisch, and I am a new volunteer in the Chapel Hill area.  As a volunteer, I receive sincere thanks regularly from GiGi’s board and staff, program leaders, other volunteers, families, and even participants themselves.  However, I want you to know how thankful I am to be a volunteer.  You provide such genuine examples of thoughtfulness, purpose, love, patience, flexibility, and joy!  You take care in providing your volunteers with the attention and resources they need to be effective.  I always look forward to my time with you, from movies and dancing with Fantastic Friends, to singing and signing with LMNOP, to talking about fundraising with board members.

I have a story to share that I hope is a meaningful reflection of your valuable role in the community.  My husband and I have four children, and their involvement in service activities is important to us.  Our oldest, Mady (9), has shown true interest in accompanying me as a GiGi’s volunteer.  She has general knowledge of this beautiful community, but (more importantly to us) we are seeing she has a heartfelt understanding as well.  At the 2017 Fall Festival, she met Megan and Cristina from “Born This Way” and received the photos they were signing. That evening at bedtime, she asked me if she could keep the photos at school.  I said “Of course” and asked why.  She said her teacher wants students to keep photos on their desk of people who are an INSPIRATION to them.  Wow!  What a fantastic take-home message!  Thank you, GiGi’s Playhouse, for being a community that welcomes and inspires.

We love when our volunteers feel appreciated and they see that our playhouse is a community that inspires. Each of our volunteers is making a difference in so many lives, without our volunteers we wouldn’t be able to make a difference during programs, playhouse hours and community events. Thank you all volunteers, we seriously couldn’t do what we do without you!