Our Families at the Bucs Game

  Thank you #76, Donovan Smith, for donating 6 of your tickets to our GiGi’s Playhouse Families.  Donovan chose GiGi’s Playhouse to give away his tickets because he has a loved one with an intellectual disability and he was really impressed with what GiGi’s Playhouse does for our participants. Our Playhouse is very fortunate to…

Read More

Meet your Site Coordinator

Meet our Site Coordinator Heidi Schertzer is our site coordinator here at GiGi’s Playhouse. She has an extensive history in Early Childhood Education and working with children of various special needs. Heidi has a passion for working with children and adults with Down syndrome. As our site coordinator she will be the face of the…

Read More

Message from the President

Message from the President: It has been a little over (3) weeks since GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa has opened its doors to the public and the response has been amazing!  Just in the last (3) weeks over 400 individuals have attended our different programs including Destination Discovery, Playhouse Pals, Special Olympics Young Athletes, LMNOP, Inspire Kitchen…

Read More

Meet your Sunday Destination Discovery Team Leader

Emily Edginton is the Playhouse Sunday Destination Discovery Team Leader and the program is offered for all ages.  Emily is a registered behavior Technician at Engage Behavioral Health and provides direct services to teens and children.  “I heard about Gigi’s from a professor and immediatly thought it sounded like an amazing place. Not only do…

Read More

Meet the Program Lead at GiGi’s Playhouse Inspire Kitchen

When Rob Rawlings first lived in Tampa in 2002, he was a Coast Guard Helicopter Pilot, stationed in Clearwater.   Though he dabbled in grilling and testing recipes, he was single and becoming a chef and volunteering for a Down syndrome organization  was the furthest thing from his mind.   Fast forward to 2013, while…

Read More

Meet your LMNOP Program Lead

My name is Stacey Thomas, speech language pathologist(SLP) and co-leader of the Wednesday and Friday LMNOP language groups. A graduate of the University of Florida with a masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology, I have more than 15 years of experience working as a pediatric SLP.  My husband and I are blessed with four amazing children,…

Read More

GiGi’s Playhouse is a “Place” for Adults too

TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER My name is Nick Altieri.  I was nominated and chosen for the Tampa Bay Lightning Community hero in December 2017 and was given $50,000 to donate to the charity of my choice.  I chose GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa. BUT WHY GiGi’s Playhouse ? GiGi’s Playhouse is a place to go and to feel…

Read More

Meet our Program Leads for Tuesday Playhouse Pals

GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa is offering Playhouse Pals for our participants between the ages of 4-10, a few times a week.   On Tuesdays from 6:30pm-7:30pm we will be offering Playhouse Pals directed by our Program Leads from All About Speech and Language, a Tampa based therapy group.  We are so fortunate to have such incredible…

Read More

Meet your Program Lead for Saturday Playhouse Pals

GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa is so fortunate that so many experts in the therapy fields want to volunteer and help our families and participants.   Kathy Sills will bring a lot to our Playhouse.  We can’t wait to get started.  Remember to RSVP through our website calendar at www.gigisplayhouse.org/tampa/calendar. Hello! My name is Kathleen, but my…

Read More

Meet your Program Lead for Destination Discovery

GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa has been blessed to attract volunteers who want to be Program Leads that come to us with extraordinary experience and a personal connection to the Down syndrome community. Karen Probst will be the Program Lead for Destination Discovery which is offered for ALL AGES (siblings welcome). Destination Discovery supports the development of fine…

Read More