Building Strength and Confidence: Chloe’s Journey at GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse
Chloe is a genetic counseling student who has found an incredible way to merge her passion for advocacy with her love of fitness through GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse. In her work in the genetic counseling field, she supports many individuals with Down syndrome and their families, and she quickly realized that...
Celebrating Emilee’s Best of All: A Virtual Playhouse Story
At just 7 months old, Emilee is already making waves in the GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse community! She’s been participating in LMNOP (Language, Music N’ Our Peeps) since she was just 2 months old, and in that time, she’s shown us all what Best of All truly looks like. Each week,...
Meet Genevieve: Spreading Joy Through Virtual Volunteering
At GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse, our volunteers make all the difference! This week, we’re spotlighting Genevieve, who leads Kids Club virtually every week, bringing joy and connection to participants. Finding GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse After graduating college, Genevieve moved to Gainesville, FL, eager to get involved in her community. Having previously volunteered...
Celebrating a “Best of All” Moment with GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse
At GiGi's Virtual Playhouse, every small victory is celebrated, and each step forward is considered a "Best of All" moment. These moments are continual, measurable, and celebrated, motivating participants to challenge themselves a little more each day. One inspiring "Best of All" story comes from Daeja, who experienced a memorable...
Volunteering with GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse: A Rewarding Experience
Analie’s journey with GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse began because of their sister, who has Down syndrome. Growing up with her, she developed a deep appreciation for individuals with Down Syndrome, enjoying their energy, joy, and unique perspectives. Wanting to give back to this community, Analie decided to get involved with GiGi’s...
Sundae Sunday!
Do you want a homemade mint chocolate chip sundae? John and Matthew can make one for you! When the twin brothers were younger, they were like all kids their age wanting sweet desserts with every meal. Their parents decided to make every Sunday their special day to have sweets ~...
The Joy of Cooking and Connecting: Haley’s Journey with GiGi’s Kitchen Adult
One of the most fulfilling moments in Haley’s life happens every week when she steps into the kitchen for her cooking class. Each dish she creates is a delicious and nutritious masterpiece, and the best part? Sharing that meal with her parents, who are always eager to enjoy the masterpiece...
A Lesson in Connection and Empowerment
Lisa had the opportunity to work with GiGi’s Playhouse over the past 16 weeks. Her role involved tutoring and connecting with participants in a virtual setting. At first, Lisa felt nervous and unsure of what to expect. She wasn’t sure how she could help or if she could make a...
Volunteer Spotlight – Jake’s volunteer experience inspired him to take action!
Jake Kingsbury started volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix during his sophomore year in high school helping with group programs. In his junior year in high school, he became a Youth Board member. Jake collaborated with other Youth Board members to provide group activities for the participants, as well as spread...
The Joy of Story Telling
At the heart of our Virtual Playhouse lies something truly special, the joy of storytelling. We are incredibly fortunate to have a dynamic mother-daughter duo who volunteer with us each month to create a magical Storytime experience for our participants. But what truly stands out is the bond they share,...
DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH — PROVIDING THE RUNWAY FOR ACCEPTANCE!
We’ve all been there before — we walk into a room, and for whatever reason, it feels like all eyes are on us. For most of us, this is a fleeting feeling, but for individuals with Down syndrome, this is a daily reality. Individuals with Down syndrome wear their diagnosis...
Gaining new skills through virtual learning
Virtual GiGi’s Kitchen Adult is a program where adults from around the country meet weekly to cook new recipes and learn about the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities and a shared meal. Under the guidance of program leaders, participants will learn...