The 62nd Playhouse: GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston marks a new beginning
Unlimited. Underestimated. Unapologetic. At GiGi’s Playhouse, we believe in the power of potential, not just in the individuals with Down syndrome we serve but also in the communities that can bring our mission to life.
The opening of GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston, our 62nd Playhouse to open, is a perfect example. While the Playhouse will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, May 17, ushering in our FREE educational, therapeutic, and career training programs, the Charleston Playhouse didn’t begin with a building; it began with a vision.
That vision started in August 2021, when Co-founder Lynze Sikes, a local mom, visited GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh with her young daughter, Carly. Inspired by the love, acceptance, and possibility she experienced, Lynze shared her visit in a local Facebook group.
That post connected her with Marie Myers, who would become the Charleston Playhouse’s Co-founder. The two quickly bonded over their shared vision: to bring a GiGi’s Playhouse to Charleston.
What followed was the formation of a determined team of moms and community leaders who would become the Charleston startup team. They didn’t just believe in the potential of GiGi’s Playhouse; they believed in Charleston’s potential to rally around the mission.
That momentum grew in November 2021 when Lynze and Marie attended the GiGi’s Playhouse National Conference. Surrounded by other Playhouse leaders and inspired by GiGi Gianni, the namesake and Chief Inspiration Officer of GiGi’s Playhouse, they saw the mission in action and its impact on families across the country. Hearing founder Nancy Gianni speak, they realized they were joining a nationwide movement for acceptance, empowerment, and lasting change.
Riding that momentum, GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston was officially recognized as a startup location in March 2022. That same year, Kim Jenkins joined the dedicated startup team; she would later become the treasurer of the board. Together, the startup team hit the ground running—raising awareness and educating others about GiGi’s free programs, national network, and sustainable business model.
As word spread, the larger Charleston community began to see the potential of GiGi’s Playhouse. In 2023, under the leadership of T Beck, now Vice President of the founding board, the team hosted its first GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge and gala. Both events were major successes, building strong community support and attracting sponsorships from local businesses.
In January 2024, GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston officially established its founding board, marking another major milestone. Community excitement continued to build, and in March, the Playhouse received a transformational gift. Rick Cobden, South Carolina Franchise Owner for City Wide Facility Solutions, selected GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston as the beneficiary of their National Conference charity event.
This contribution, paired with donations from local businesses and individuals, provided the critical funding needed to move forward with the Playhouse buildout and bring the original vision to life.
That vision will be realized when the 4,200-square-foot space opens and becomes the first GiGi’s Playhouse in South Carolina. Beyond offering FREE educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, it will be a place where potential is recognized, celebrated, and realized.
It’s a continuation of the movement that founder Nancy Gianni started 21 years ago, built on the belief that individuals with Down syndrome deserve every opportunity to thrive.
For the Charleston Playhouse, May 17 will not mark the end of a journey but the beginning of one marked by unlimited potential.
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