December Volunteer Spotlight
Meet "Izzy" Izzy joined GiGi's Playhouse in February of this year and helps with a multitude of projects and events at the playhouse. She is currently a high school student and athlete and volunteers as often as she can. Izzy is always willing to help with any project or task...
September Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Ana! Ana Trejo is an intern with GiGi's Playhouse Tampa who came to us as a student from the University of San Diego. Due to COVID, she was sent home to Tampa to complete a year of her schooling. During that time she completed almost 300 hours of volunteering...
August Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Maria Benza Maria joined GiGi's Playhouse Tampa in November 2018 as a volunteer. Since then, she has become a program assistant for Fantastic Friends, our 18 year+ group. Maria always has a "can do" attitude and is always willing to help with anything that needs to be done. She is...
Meet Our Programs – Teen Tastic
Teen Tastic – Focuses on building social skills with friends without Down syndrome by participating in team-based activities in a casual and fun setting. Skill development includes understanding compromise, turn-taking and problem-solving abilities. Recommended for ages 13-17 year olds Increase social skills, with a focus on group participation and increasing...
Meet Our Programs – Kids Club
Kids Club – Supports the development of social skills and language through peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. This program will also support gross motor skills through active games, fine motor and self-help skills through meal/snack preparation and activities. Recommended for 8-12 year olds. Increase social...
July Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Alex Dayton! Alex joined GiGi's Playhouse Tampa in May as a Doctoral OT Student Intern from the University of St. Augustine. As her doctoral project, she has been running the GiGiFIT Adult Program with small groups two days a week. In addition, she has been a huge asset to the...
Meet Our Programs – 1:1 Literacy Tutoring
LITERACY TUTORING All GiGi's Playhouse programs are purposeful and progressive. They are offered at no cost to our families. The GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa FREE 1:1 Literacy program is specifically designed for individuals with Down syndrome ages 3 through adulthood. Trained volunteers teach along purposeful progressions that build confidence and mastery....
Meet Our Programs – Playhouse Pals
Playhouse Pals – Support the development of social skills and language through peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. This program also supports gross motor skills through active games, as well as fine motor skills & self-help skills. Recommended for 5-8 year olds. Increase social skills, with...
Virtual Literacy Tutoring a Huge Success!
GiGi’s Playhouse Tampa Virtual Literacy Sessions Were a HIT! By Anjali Shah In the midst of an unprecedented summer facing the COVID-19 pandemic, Gigi’s Playhouse Tampa, FL worked diligently and proudly to create something beautiful. Despite the challenges many of us have faced in the past year, our staff at...
June Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Chloe Prewitt Chloe joined GiGi's Playhouse Tampa in October 2020 and immediately began helping out wherever she could. In January, she began helping and co-leading LMNOP, our program for kids ages newborn to 36 months. Chloe is a huge asset to the playhouse and to the lives that she...
Meet Our Programs – Destination Discovery
Destination Discovery – Geared toward individuals of all ages, this program supports the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills and language through purposeful play and peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. This program also brings families together to share experiences and build...
Meet Our Programs – Leaps & Bounds
Leaps & Bounds –Recommended for children ages 3-5 years old, this program will help promote social, emotional, large and small muscle group development. Children will participate in fun and engaging activities that require movement and interaction with their environment. The goals of this program are: Increase fine motor skills, including...