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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 a fire on the beach.…
Read MoreGrowing up with a little brother with Down syndrome
“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 and how they’d treat him. To be honest I’m still scared but I…
Read MoreMeet 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 member/facilitator of the San Diego…
Read MoreMeet 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 syndrome and she wanted to…
Read MoreThe 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 God was calling her in…
Read MoreMeet our little folkloric dancer!
About Carmen Carmen has been participating at Gigi’s Playhouse San Diego since the Summer of 2018. She started with music therapy with Ms. Lindsay. Carmen was so shy and introverted at the time. She was 4 years old at the time and it was the first time Carmen and Mom (Elisa) had heard…
Read MoreGiGiPREP: EmployAble – Our new employment prep program!
We are excited to share with you EmployAble! A GiGi’s San Diego new employment prep program. What is EmployAble?The EmployAble program is designed to prepare adults with Down syndrome for employment opportunities and/or professional settings. This program will be led by Valerie Schlieder, a doctoral of Occupational Therapy student who is focusing her studies on promoting inclusive…
Read MoreMeet Reilly – Our awesome new intern!
Reilly has ample experience volunteering with special care children, including being a Disability Aide at Messiah Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School (where she also leads their Sunday School for 3rd graders). She has experience working alongside teachers and students as a Teacher’s Aide, focusing on the students’ social, emotional, and physical development. Here at GiGi’s Playhouse San…
Read MoreBest caregivers a GiGi’s Playhouse could ask for
For the 2nd year in a row, we had the great opportunity to have as a group volunteer, the MENP Nursing students from UCSD volunteering at GiGi’s San Diego, but this time IN-PERSON! They were such a great leaders and took initiative on creating fun activities during our “Funday Open Play”. They volunteered from scheduling…
Read MoreDecember Volunteer Spotlight: Victoria Capdevila
Meet Victoria! Victoria started volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse in high school after meeting her best friend who has Down syndrome. She loved having a sense of community, building relationships through the playhouse, and helping participants build life skills in the kitchen. After volunteering at the GiGi’s Playhouse in Hillsborough, New Jersey for several years (including starting their Cooking…
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