GiGi’s Playhouse is a special place for this family
We are Dominick and Mery Furlano, and our family lives in the south Hillsborough County area of Tampa Bay. We have 7 children—5 girls and 2 boys. Our youngest four daughters were born in the Republic of China, whom we adopted as orphans. Fallon Ella, age 9, was born with Trisomy 21. Genevieve Lily, 8,…
Read MoreWelcome Chris Terrill, our new Playhouse Volunteer Coordinator
We love our volunteers and GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa! And we love our new Volunteer Coordinator, Chris Terrill. Our Volunteer Coordinator is a key member of our operational team at the Playhouse. Chris Terrill originally started her college studies with the intention of becoming a math teacher working with special needs children. Midway through,…
Read MoreHow to use our calendar to sign-up
Our calendar is the hub of information for all of our programs, events, volunteer and parent orientations. Many of our calendar events, especially programs, have an RSVP Feature that allows us to plan our supplies and volunteer needs. Step 1: Check out our calendar at https://gigisplayhouse.org/tampa/calendar/ Step 2: Find the program/event/training you want to attend…
Read MoreOur 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 MoreMeet 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 MoreMessage 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 MoreMeet 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 MoreMeet 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 MoreMeet 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 MoreGiGi’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…
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