Kappa Kappa Gamma & GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego: Building Community Together

At GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego, every program, every tutoring session, every celebration, and every Best of All moment is made possible because of people who choose to give their time.

Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our Playhouse.

From one-on-one literacy and math tutors to event volunteers and community advocates, each person who walks through our doors helps create a place where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted, celebrated, and empowered. That’s why partnerships with organizations like Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of San Diego mean so much to our participants and our Playhouse.

A Connection That Started with One Volunteer

Like many of our favorite stories, this partnership began with one person.

Tally, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and one of our dedicated one-on-one tutors, introduced GiGi’s Playhouse as a potential local philanthropy for the chapter.

“Our chapter was introduced to GiGi’s Playhouse through several of our members who volunteered there and developed meaningful connections with the organization,” shared Hallie Cook, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Philanthropy Director. “One of those members, Tally, brought GiGi’s forward as a potential local philanthropy because of her personal experience volunteering.”

After learning more about GiGi’s mission, the chapter voted to make GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego their local philanthropy.

“What I love most is that once we choose an organization, our members build their own personal relationships with it through volunteering and events.”

That personal connection is exactly what makes volunteerism so powerful.

More Than a Day of Service

This spring, Kappa Kappa Gamma hosted a Kickball Tournament benefiting GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego. While the tournament raised awareness and support for our mission, it also introduced many new members to our incredible Playhouse community.

Although several members were already volunteering with GiGi’s, Hallie shared that the event became a meaningful introduction for many others.

“Every year we welcome new members, and for many of them GiGi’s was a new organization. The tournament was a great way to introduce them to your mission.”

The impact didn’t stop when the tournament ended.

“After the tournament, I noticed more members expressing interest in volunteering and building their own connections with GiGi’s. I know it inspired me personally to become even more involved.”

That is exactly why community events matter. They create opportunities for people to experience inclusion firsthand, meet our participants and families, and discover that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

Building Understanding Through Relationships

One of the most meaningful parts of this partnership has been the relationships formed between our families and the Kappa Kappa Gamma members.

“Spending time with the participants and their families gave many of us a greater appreciation for the incredible community that GiGi’s has built,” Hallie shared.

“It has helped us better understand the experiences of individuals with Down syndrome and the importance of creating inclusive spaces where everyone is celebrated.”

Those connections are what GiGi’s Playhouse is all about.

When volunteers spend time alongside our participants, barriers disappear, friendships grow, and a stronger, more inclusive San Diego begins to take shape.

Looking Toward the Future

One of the greatest compliments we can receive is when someone wants to continue building alongside us.

Hallie shared that she hopes this partnership continues well beyond her time as Philanthropy Director.

“We are so thankful for this partnership and everything GiGi’s Playhouse does. We love opportunities to raise awareness, volunteer, and give back to our community. I fully intend to pass this tradition on to our next Philanthropy Chair so that our Kickball Tournament continues to benefit GiGi’s for years to come. We would absolutely love to continue partnering on future events and outreach opportunities!”

We couldn’t be more grateful.

To Hallie, Tally, and every member of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of San Diego—thank you for believing in our mission, investing your time, and helping build a more accepting and inclusive San Diego.

Your support goes far beyond a single event. It creates friendships, strengthens our programs, and reminds our participants and families that this community stands beside them.

Together, we’re proving that when people come together with purpose, everyone wins.

Interested in volunteering or becoming a community partner?

Whether you’re an individual, student organization, business, or community group, there’s a place for you at GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego. From tutoring and program support to hosting fundraisers and service projects, your time and talents can make a lasting impact. Click here to learn about volunteering.

Join us in building a more accepting and inclusive San Diego—one relationship at a time.