Team Feature: Ella’s Gems

On May 4th, 2024 our entire GiGi’s Playhouse Sacramento community will come together for our GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge! This Family Fun Run will celebrate all we have to be proud of, connect our community and create a ripple effect of acceptance!

We have some awesome teams signed up to join us at Maidu Park- today we’re spotlighting Ella’s Gems!

Ella participates in a variety of programs at GiGi’s Playhouse Sacramento and has attended the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge every year- making huge strides year to year!

We sat down with Jen, Ella’s mom and captain of Ella’s Gem’s to find out more about their team!

Why fundraise for GiGi’s Playhouse?

GiGi’s Playhouse is an incredible place that opened during Covid in 2020, when Ella was a newborn. It was a time that felt very isolated and lonely. This was a place we felt comfortable to go because we knew other families were here who were in a similar situation to us, maybe worried about their baby getting sick, recently in the hospital, a new diagnosis, or navigating early intervention. We attended the LMNOP program for ages 0-3 yrs with the amazing Danielle. It’s a place that offers support and programs for ALL ages, and it has been introducing more and more programs to further support development, community, and skills. There are other amazing support groups and Instagram follows, but there is nothing to compare to GiGi’s!

What do you love about the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge?

This will be our 3rd year of the GiGiFit Acceptance Challenge and it feels so good to see all of the other families not only getting some fresh air but also fun activities and celebrating eachother for who they are!

Ella first finished the 5k in my arms, the next year she walked across in her gait trainer, and this year she will walk across independently! I love seeing her progress looking back at these events and they are just a great time for parents, families, and friends to support an amazing community.

What’s your number one fundraising/recruitment strategy?

Everyone we know knows how much we love GiGi’s so all we do is mention the 5k opportunity to see Ella cross the finish line and post our link to join or donate on Instagram and Facebook. Ella sends out thank you notes or signs thank you through our stories and we may also FaceTime our donors. We’d like to do something fun next year for our team!

Anything you’d like to add? 

There are not many things I rave about over and over again but Gigi’s is one of these. It holds a special place in our heart and always will. It was there when the world was shut down!

Thank you Jen & the entire Ella’s Gems Team- we love having you as part of our event and can’t wait to Move For Acceptance with you on May 4th!!

Learn more & register your team today!!