Isabella-Dash

Participants Best of All – Our GFAC Donut Run Kid Dashers for Down Syndrome

GFAC Donut Run Kid Dashers for Down Syndrome Isabella, Carmen and Dashers with medals This years GFAC Donut Run was by far the biggest event for GiGi's Playhouse San Diego and with that being said the Kid Dasher's for Down Syndrome were out showing all participants how to get this...

Volunteer Spotlight – Nick

Nick's Tutor Sporting Connections It's those little sparks between people that build meaningful connections and one of our wonderful volunteers has honed in on that connectedness and ran with it. Meet our awesome volunteer Nick C. Nick has been a volunteer here at GiGi's Playhouse San Diego since June 2022...

Tutoring at GiGi’s San Diego: 5 Myths and Facts

(Repost from our GiGi's Playhouse Madison and Fargo - sister locations) We Want You As we jump into summer 2023 tutoring in June, we are expecting a high number of applications from our families. Our Tutoring applications are open. Summer sessions runs from June 20 - August 28. Tutors and...

Volunteer Spotlight – Sensei Amanda

The Truly Unique Sensei Amanda Karate Kickers Sensei Amanda has a passion for utilizing her skills in teaching our participants how to effectively protect themselves while learning the fine art of Karate. Amanda leads our Karate Kickers Program, making sure participants are following all safety protocols and respecting each others...

Participant Best of All – Jack

The one and only, Jack McGeachy Jack during GiGi's Teen Kitchen As said by his Tutor Nick “I wouldn’t say it’s one stand out moment, but more so his consistency to always show up with a great attitude and strong desire to learn. With that drive, he’s been progressing so...
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What It’s Like Living With A Sister 

Growing up with a younger sister has always been inspirational because she gives me the best advice in different situations. Whenever I need to talk to her about something, she always listens to what I’m saying and supports me with a variety of coping strategies to help me get through...
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Volunteer Spotlight – Patti

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...
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Participant Best of All – Lindsey

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...
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Participant Best of All – Frankie

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...
Ghostbuster-Matt

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...