5,400 Hours of Impact: Meet the Volunteers Behind the Magic

Over 5,400 Program Hours (and Counting!) — All Thanks to Our Volunteers

Not even five months into 2025, and we’ve already logged over 5,400 program hours at GiGi’s Playhouse! Every single day brings something new—whether it’s welcoming a new family, celebrating a milestone, or discovering a hidden talent. But none of this would be possible without the heartbeat of our Playhouse: our volunteers.

As a 99% volunteer-run organization, we rely on our volunteers for just about everything. But when they’re here, they’re more than just volunteers—they’re friends, mentors, chefs, dancers, cheerleaders, and changemakers. They bring the energy, passion, and love that make GiGi’s Playhouse the vibrant place it is.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and as it wraps up, we want to shine a light on just a few of the incredible humans who give their time and talents to our mission. We recently hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Trivia Night, featuring delicious eats from Beer Tree Factory and a fun round of GiGi’s-themed trivia (plus some general trivia for good measure!). Our amazing Gratitude Committee crafted handmade bookmarks as tokens of thanks, and we handed out prizes to our trivia champs!

Meet Some of Our Volunteer All-Stars:

💬 Kim Hahne – Walking Club Champion

Kim Hahne is a retired school counselor and now one of our most consistent and encouraging volunteers. She first learned about GiGi’s as a community resource during her time in education and felt called to get involved. Today, she leads our Walking Club, taking two laps around the Oakdale Commons with our participants and sticking around after for chats and connection.

Kim brings warmth and genuine support every time she’s at the Playhouse. “Given the right atmosphere and encouragement,” she says, “people with disabilities can accomplish amazing things. I love seeing their progress—whether it’s walking two full laps, landing a job, performing in a band, taking part in a talent show, or speaking in public. It’s a reminder that individuals with disabilities contribute so much to our community every single day.”

🎨 Jen Stewart – Literacy Tutor Extraordinaire

Jen joined our volunteer family in November 2024, and from day one, she jumped in with both feet. She started with Walking Club, Gratitude Committee, and Art Explosion—and then took it up a notch. By February, she was tutoring three students in literacy! That’s an incredible time commitment, and we are so thankful for her dedication.

Jen has a gift for connecting with each student and tailoring her approach to meet their needs. Every tutoring session is different—and that’s exactly what makes her so effective. When asked what keeps her coming back, Jen shared:

“This is an incredible community of participants, staff, parents, relatives, and friends. Everyone has been so welcoming, and it brightens my day every time I come here.”

🏋️‍♂️ The Simek Family – GiGiFIT Heroes

Sometimes, volunteering is a family affair! Meet the Simeks: Dave, Sally, Matt, and Katie. Dave, Sally, and their son Matt all lead GiGiFIT classes! While Katie (Matt’s wife) was one of our original board members! They all were some of our earliest supporters, and were inspired to be involved because of Matt and Katie’s son, Grady, who has Down syndrome. Being here since the beginning, they have helped form our Playhouse into what it is today!

Matt started leading GiGiFIT Kids, and as those kids became teens, he seamlessly transitioned into GiGiFIT Teen, keeping the sessions upbeat, engaging, and always challenging in the best way, while introducing new exercises to target different areas!

Reflecting on their favorite memories, Dave and Sally shared:

“The grand opening of the original Vestal Playhouse was so special—packed with families, friends, and supporters. The opening of our new Oakdale Commons location was just as meaningful. But the most memorable moment was when our grandson Grady gave a speech at the Gala a few years ago. He did an amazing job, and it was such a proud moment. Taking the GiGiFIT and Signing with the Stars group to Binghamton University to sign the anthem at baseball and softball games was also pretty cool.”

Dave, through his work in the athletics department at Binghamton University, has helped organize incredible opportunities—like having our Signing with the Stars group sign the National Anthem at university sporting events!

These are just a few of the amazing volunteers we’re lucky to see each week. Thanks to their generosity, we’re able to keep all our programs free of charge—something we’re incredibly proud of.

Thinking about volunteering? We get it—it can feel a little overwhelming at first. But at GiGi’s, we’ll walk you through it step-by-step. Our space is full of joy, growth, laughter, and magic—and there’s always room for one more.

✨ Start by filling out our volunteer interest form, and let’s take it from there.
📧 Have questions? Reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Liz, at estoeckel@gigisplayhouse.org.

Let’s keep making magic together. 💜