Volunteer Spotlight
Our volunteers mean the world to us Meet our wonderful volunteer, Patti Dorgan. Well, she’s not exactly new too GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego. Patti has been volunteering with GiGi’s since 2019 where she quickly took to tutoring and working with many different participants. She then decided, like many volunteers, that...
Participant Best of All
Oh that Lindsey! Lindsey and her brother at the 2022 Donut Run Lindsey has grown up in the GiGi’s Playhouse world as she is one of the founding members and past Board Presidents daughters. Throughout time Lindsey has blossomed and been a guiding light as she grows, being an inspiration...
The story about my older brother Robert
Robert Espinoza My older brother, Robert, was born with Down syndrome in 1977. My mother always tells us how she knew something was different while she was pregnant with Robert. The doctors offered her testing, but she refused because she knew no matter what she was going to love her...
Participant Best of All
Meet Frankie! Frankie is a new GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego explorer. A man of a few words but with a great sense of style and exploration direction. It can be a bit hard initially to get into that groove when starting something new, but Frankie always seems to have a...
Volunteer Spotlight Matt
What can we say about Matt but what a fantastic volunteer. From Fantastic Friends, to Fitness to Events, Matt does it all! Welcome to the world of our wonderful volunteer Matt. Matt has been volunteering since June 2022 but in his short amount of time volunteering he has certainly left...
Spotlight Volunteer – Meet Lucy S.
This month one of our Youth Board member/volunteer Lucy has stepped up and has truly blossomed. She has been a member of the Youth Board since January 2022 but didn’t come into her own until just recently with consistently showing up to the Youth Board meetings, actively engaging in the...
Meet our Ambassador Clark – Our Best of All story
November was a busy month for our Ambassador Clark. A huge shout out for his determination in spreading the GiGi’s word of becoming a donor as well as collecting donations for our Party with a Purpose. Clark has a goal of challenging himself and being flexible which we all know...
Stefania’s happy place is the beach!
Stefania and I moved from Cleveland, OH to San Diego to be closer to family...my sisters (aunties). We have lived here now since August 2022 and so happy to be here. Love the sunshine! Stefania's happy place is the beach. For her 16th birthday, she asked to have...
Growing up with a little brother with Down syndrome
Cesilie and Mateo Candelario "When first hearing about the DS diagnosis I cried, a lot. I was scared for the life he would have. I never thought he would live a bad life or be a burden, I was scared of the people that don't understand...
Meet our wonderful NEW Site Manager!
Marissa (Rissa) is a rehabilitation counselor with a specialization in cognitive disabilities. She holds a rehabilitation counseling certification, utilizing her skills in the field of different abilities encouraging folks to explore their gifts in a wide variety of vocational settings, personal development and socialization skills. She is a long-term...
Meet Valerie: our Awesome Volunteer and GiGi’s Kitchen Program Lead
Valerie S. Volunteer at Friends, Fun and Fitness, Fantastic Friends and GiGi's Kitchen Program Lead Valerie S., originally from Riverside, CA has been volunteering with GiGi's Playhouse San Diego since Fall 2021. She started volunteering with GiGi's Playhouse because some of her very best friends in the world have Down...
The magnificent mother-son duo: Trish and Zander Candia
Trish and Zander Candia Our volunteer Trish Candia, originally from Oregon, moved to San Diego because of the SUN! Trish and her son Zander have been consistently volunteering at GiGi’s San Diego for almost 1 year. Trish has been an elementary school teacher for 20 years and felt that...