Meet our Program Lead for our 2019 Dance Program
Dance classes for our GiGi’s Playhouse participants is coming to the Playhouse. Our first sessions are being offered to age groups 8-17 years of age. This is an exciting new program that offers our dance participants a chance to appear on stage at the Straz Performing Arts Center. Orientation is being offered on January 20th…
Read MoreThe Lavoy Team joins the GiGi’s Playhouse Team
The Lavoy Team is a full service real estate team working with buyers, sellers and investors who have found a very special place in their hearts for GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa. Their support means that they are advocating for GiGi’s Playhouse within their network to spread to mission of changing the way the world views…
Read MoreGiGi’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…
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