Dahlia’s Story – Giving from the Heart!
Dahlia had her Bat Mitzvah this May. She decided, on her own, with all her gifts of cash and checks she received from many family members and friends who attended her Bat Mitzvah, that she would pay it forward to her local community. Dahlia thought carefully about all the many...
Erin – Volunteer Spotlight
Impact Story of GiGi's Playhouse - Twin Cities written by Erin, Volunteer: "Whenever Benjamin, a little boy that attends GiGi’s Playhouse - Twin Cities programming, realizes that he’s going to GiGi’s, he hooks his fingers together like they are giving each other a hug. This is the sign for friends in sign language, and I think...
Cody and Amy Jackson: History of Cody’s Dash
Shortly after Cody's birth, approximately July 2011, Amy Jackson's dear friends Andrea Johnston and Liz Meyer came to her and expressed their desire to do something for Cody and the Down syndrome community. They had in mind a 5K/Family Fun event. They started meeting to discuss the beginning stages of...
A Place We All Belong…
Maura, Benjamin's Mom, shares what GiGi's Playhouse means to her and her family. "A few months ago I learned about a place called GiGi’s Playhouse. GiGi’s is a national nonprofit organization that was created as a support system for families with a child with Down Syndrome. They support families...
Happy (Belated) Birthday GiGi Gianni!
"All this because one little girl was born…" Last week GiGi Gianni and her family celebrated her 16th birthday! Read her mom, our founder’s, blog about the impact GiGi has made on her mom, family and community in her short 16 years of life here Here in the Twin Cities...
“Mom Talk” with Marya (Charlotte’s Mom)
Happy Mom Talk Tuesday! "Mom talk" is when local Twin Cities Playhouse Moms share real stories of Down syndrome, acceptance and GiGi's Playhouse. This week we are fortunate enough to have Marya (Charlotte's Mom) share her thoughts on GiGi's Playhouse and building community after a Down syndrome diagnosis. Thanks for...
Our May Volunteer of the Month is….
Tawnya is our Volunteer of the Month for May! Tawnya has been the Program Lead for our Leaps & Bounds program for the past two years. She has done an incredible job facilitating the program while also ensuring families, participants and volunteers feel welcomed, engaged and supported. Tawnya goes above...
Four Ways to Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day…
World Down syndrome Day is Wednesday, March 21st (3/21), only a few days away! World Down syndrome day (WDSD) was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world. In December 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared March 21st World Down syndrome Day to raise awareness...
Our February Volunteer of the Month is…..
Meet our February Volunteer of the Month, Katie! Katie has been a volunteer here at GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities since November 2017. Katie has volunteered with a number of our programs since then! She’s volunteered with our Social Skills for Young Learners Program, LMNOP and Yoga! Katie says that her...
Sea Life Room Grand Opening!
On Wednesday, January 17th we had our Grand Opening celebration for our brand new Sea Life Room here at GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities! This is an interactive room designed, funded and built by Merlin's Magic Wand Foundation and Sea Life! Our Sea Life Room is an interactive "sensory" room that...
“This is the best night of my life”
Wow! Our Winter Wonderland Dance was a huge hit this year! We had almost 50 teen and adult participants attend with their friends and family on Friday, December 8th. And we all danced the night away! One of our adult participants was overheard saying, "this is the best night of...
We’re Expanding!
We're Expanding! The GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities Board of Directors is excited to announce that we are expanding! We will be adding 4,000 square feet of Playhouse space by growing into the warehouse space on the other side of our back wall. The expansion will begin in the end of...