Posts by Tracy Smith
The 2026 Above & Beyond Award for Oustanding Volunteerism goes to …. Read to discover who!
At GiGi’s Playhouse Westchester, our volunteers are the heart of everything we do, and each year we take great pride in recognizing individuals who truly go above and beyond in service to our community. This year, we were honored to celebrate Carolyn Frost, whose unwavering dedication, compassion, and generosity have made a lasting impact on…
Read MoreI Am Smart, Strong, and Determined
by Kacie Rooney, Inspirational Speaker 2026 Kacie has been an integral part of our community for many years, participating in a wide range of programs and building meaningful friendships along the way. When asked to be this year’s Inspirational Self Advocate Speaker, she was truly honored and excited to take on the role. In preparation,…
Read MoreMaking It Happen: Spring Tutoring Session Delivers Despite the Odds
This spring, our one-to-one literacy and math tutoring programs looked a little different—but thanks to our incredible tutors, participants, and families, they were just as impactful as ever. With our new location still under construction, our tutoring team rose to the challenge of finding creative ways to meet with students. Sessions were held at local…
Read MoreTeam Work makes the Dream Work!
Looking Back to Move Forward: Our Summer of Change at the Playhouse Last summer was a whirlwind at the Playhouse—a blur of boxes, laughter, teamwork, and a whole lot of sweat equity. In just two short months, we undertook the monumental task of relocating our entire Playhouse after nearly a decade in the same space.…
Read MoreGiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge 2025 – Amazing!
Our annual GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge run, walk, and Kids Dash was incredible! Even the rain didn’t stop us! GiGIFIT Acceptance Challenge Highlights: Many people deserve a shout-out for making this event possible! Team Captains – Thank you for being a part of this challenge and for believing in us! You all worked tirelessly to recruit…
Read MoreVolunteer Highlight
April is volunteer appreciation month! Our organization is 99% volunteer-led and relies 100% on our volunteers’ dedication, passion, generosity, and enthusiasm to provide free and purposeful programming for our entire community. To kick off Volunteer Appreciation Week, we spotlight one of our remarkable volunteers, Jennifer Sanchez. Since July 2021, Jennifer has been a dedicated presence…
Read MoreRonald MacDonald House Testimonial
Since the summer, our adult programs have focused on volunteering within our local community. The Achievers and GiGi Prep students have been regularly visiting the Ronald McDonald House Greater Hudson Valley on Mondays to bake delicious treats for the families staying there. We are excited to share RMHGHV’s testimonial and to celebrate the hard work…
Read MoreBorn To Be On Stage!
Our Inspirational Self-Advocate Speaker for the Gala 2025 was Ethan Merola. When we approached him about speaking at our event, his family needed to double-check to ensure it did not coincide with his high school’s spring Drama Club performance. Fortunately, there was no conflict. Ethan delivered an outstanding speech. We encourage you to watch his…
Read MoreEight Years And Counting!
This month, I celebrate eight years of employment at GiGi’s Playhouse Westchester, marking nine years since I first stepped through those doors and was utterly mesmerized. My daughter often reminds me that I found my happy place because of her. Nine years ago, I volunteered alongside her and her Girl Scout troop at the Annual…
Read MoreNYSE on Halloween
During the week of Halloween, we received an invitation from Jennifer at the Long Island Playhouse to join them at the NYSE closing bell on October 31st! This was an incredible opportunity, and although it was short notice, we sent invites to all our families. Unfortunately, most already had plans to celebrate Halloween. However, one…
Read More