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...
Reach out and get involved
We couldn’t serve families from all over the United States and abroad without our incredible volunteers. They show up every week ready and eager to serve our families and encourage our participants! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to have the incredible GiGi's ripple effect happening all over the world. ...
A timely discovery, from the NICU to LMNOP
When Jamie welcomed her son Zander into the world, she knew she wanted to get involved with GiGi’s Playhouse. She was eager to find something fun and meaningful to do with him before returning to work. However, life had other plans. "We came home from the NICU during winter sickness...
Finding purpose through volunteering
Volunteering virtually is such a great way to make an impact in your community. But don’t take our word for it. Let’s hear from Marisa, our Kid’s Club Program Leader this summer, about why she got involved and how she feels about her volunteer role with GiGi's Virtual Playhouse. “I...
Community & Friendship
During Covid when we first launched Virtual programming, we never realized how many new families we would begin to reach! Many families do not live close to a brick and mortar playhouse and because of this they were unable to take advantage of GiGi's free purposeful programming and meet other...
A Note of Gratitude: Galen’s Growth and Milestones with GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse
"Dear GiGi’s Virtual Team, We want you to know how much we love your programs and teachers. You have made a profound difference in our lives, and it’s hard to believe how much growth has happened for Galen since he started attending programs in September!" New Signs of Communication: The...
Forming friendships through volunteering
“Every program I go to makes me smile. After a few weeks, the regular attendees knew me, and I know them, so it feels like we are forming meaningful friendships through the programs." Annika got involved in GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse programs, as well as physical programs at the San Diego...
Celebrating Team Jade: Leading the Charge for Acceptance in the Virtual GiGiFIT Challenge
We are so thrilled to highlight our first team to reach $1,000 in our GiGiFIT Acceptance Virtual Movement Challenge this year! This incredible team is using our peer-to-peer fundraising event to raise funds to support the virtual free programming offered to families worldwide. They believe in acceptance for ALL and...