OCTOBER IS DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH (DSAM)
This Down Syndrome Awareness Month we are spreading AWARENESS and creating ACCEPTANCE! GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau’s theme for 2023 is “My Extra Chromosome…This is Me”! Throughout October we will be sharing family stories, hosting family and community events, and so much more!
Join us, whether you are an employer for a Business Lunch & Learn or for a community member participating in our GenerationG mural installation! Help us spread awareness and create acceptance!
Business Lunch
and Learn
Join us in an engaging presentation at your place of business!
Acceptance Pin & Window
Decor Packets
Join us in spreading awareness and creating acceptance!
School Activity
Book
Join us in spreading awareness about your differences in your child's school.
Are you a business that wants to learn more about Down syndrome and GiGi's, schedule a Lunch & Learn! We will come to your business over lunch with a fun and engaging presentation! Contact us at wausau@gigisplayhouse.org or (715) 370-6652 to schedule!
Stop in, make any sized donation, and receive a pin to wear the month of October and beyond! Pick up a window decor packet at the same time to put up in your business or home to show support of GiGi's and our amazing partipants!
Are you an educator and want to do a fun Down syndrome awareness activity and learn about differences, we have a book for you!
Click the image to download our activity book.
DSAM & Public Library Display about GiGi’s Playhouse & Down Syndrome
Stop at Rothschild, Hatley, Wausau, Rhinelander, or Mosinee Libraries and look for a display celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month and several of our participants!
DSAM & The Limericks Trivia Tuesdays
Stop down for trivia at The Limerick (121 Scott Street, Wausau) Tuesday nights throughout October and learn some Down syndrome 101 facts. They will be including questions as part of their trivia nights!
DSAM & National Coffee with a Cop Day
Our community is so generous in their support of the Playhouse and our participants that we want to give back! Adult participants and volunteer Amanda will visit Wausau and Weston Police Departments to deliver coffee and donuts on Wednesday, October 4th.
DSAM & Wausau’s Harvest Fest
Join us Saturday, October 7th at the 400 Block for a day of Fall fun! This Wausau event will offer a free pumpkin to those 12 and under. There will also be potato sack races, a pumpkin carving competition, a costume competition, and a petting zoo. Local businesses will have vendor tables set up with children's activities. Look for our GiGi’s booth where you will find not only a children’s activity but will find participants selling Down syndrome awareness earrings. Heart earrings will be $10 (cash preferred!). Part of the proceeds will benefit the Playhouse.
DSAM This is Me Dance Recital
October 8 • 2-4pm
Our amazing participants have been practicing their dance moves since June and want to share with the community what they have learned. This recital will officially start off Down Syndrome Awareness Month or as we like to call it Acceptance Month. This year’s theme is “This is Me!” Thank you to Dale’s Weston Lanes for providing the space! You can also purchase our Down syndrome awareness earrings at this event for $10 (cash preferred!).
DSAM & National Pumpkin Day
Let’s spread awareness by decorating pumpkins! Can you make the best blue, yellow, or Down syndrome themed pumpkin? Let’s see what you got! Pick up a pumpkin to decorate from the Playhouse, take a photo & send it to us for a special guest judge the Pumpkin Master and for us to announce on October 26th which is National Pumpkin Day! Pumpkin Pickup starting the week of October 9th at the Playhouse.
DSAM & National Stop Bullying Day
School aged GiGi’s participants will have the opportunity to bring a snack to their class with a special message about Down syndrome and being more alike than different on National Stop Bullying Day! Our Youth Board will be prepping these and will attach a message to each snack. Download and print your own tag at home here.
DSAM & Kicks and Sticks at Dick’s
Join us for an inclusive sports experience! Dick’s will provide a fun themed event for families to try out various sports. Sports stations include golf driving range and putting, boxing/punching bag, fishing pole casting, football passing, street hockey, corn hole, and more! There will be prizes too! Wednesday, October 18th. 4600 Rib Mountain Dr, Wausau.
DSAM & Sign and Twine Night
Join us at the Playhouse for an afternoon of creativity and relaxation! Volunteer Amanda will be hosting another sign workshop! Not crafty? No problem! This workshop is for all ability levels. Choose from six different designs and two stain colors. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Playhouse. Please sign up by October 14th.
DSAM & Family Day at the Pumpkin Patch
Join us at Wilke’s Farm for an afternoon of Fall fun! Participants and their families will be able to enjoy the play area, corn maze, a hayride, and private tent area from 2 to 4pm. Participants will be able to bring home a small pumpkin. All participants and their families must pre-register for this event. GiGi’s is covering the cost of this event and light refreshments and snacks will be provided. T8417 County Rd W, Wausau.
DSAM & #GenerationG Community Mural
Help raise awareness for Down syndrome, GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau, and create a more accepting, generous, and kind world for everyone. Gather your family and friends and use our GenerationG Image to create a 2D or even 3D project with the GenerationG heart being the foundation/focus. All finished projects can be dropped off throughout the month of October, at the Playhouse. Projects will be put together to create a community mural on October 28th. Questions email the Playhouse.