GiGi’s Playhouse, Wizards and Me!

On Saturday, March 23rd the GiGi’s Playhouse Westchester community gathered at the Tappan Hill Mansion to celebrate and raise money to continue to provide free and purposeful therapeutic and educational programs to individuals with Down syndrome. What a fantastic evening! We ate, danced, laughed and listened to some powerful and inspiring speeches.

One of those speeches was delivered by Meg, who attends Fantastic Friends, Teen Tastic and Cooking Club, she is also an amazing self-advocate. Meg confidently stood at the podium and delivered this wonderful speech, although she felt a little nervous, she did an amazing job in front of her family and friends.

Meg delivering her speech.

Hello Everyone,

I would like to thank GiGi’s Playhouse for this honor tonight. I have an amazing life!!

I do the things I love to do. I love to be with my friends and family, especially my little noeces and nephews.

Meg with her family.

I love sports and play basketball, swim and bowling. I study film production and have been in three High School musicals! I love to watch movies, TV, listen to music, play cards and board games. Reading the Harry Potter books is fun for me.

At school I have worked at Acme, Value Drugs and Lake Isle. Now I am learning office and bakery skills.

When GiGi’s Playhouse came to Westchester, I was so happy to go. I have had friends since I was a little girl but now there were many, many new friends to meet. GiGi’s is fun! I go to Teen Tastic, Fantastic Friends and cooking club. I even cheered with the Ardsley cheerleaders at homecoming! We do lots of arts and craft, we dance, sing, exercise and do yoga. We talk A LOT and laugh. We even had a Thanksgiving feast and sometimes we have pizza! I also went to Literacy tutoring. Eden and Katie gave me lots of History and Biographies that I love to read. Everyone at GiGi’s is very nice.

Meg with our Board Presidents – Jenn and Gwyn – collecting her award.

Soon I will graduate from High School. Everyone, my family, teachers and friends have helped me become an adult. Now I think about my own future. Harry Potter said, “you sort of start thinking anything is possible if you got enough nerve” We need to be brave and work as a team like wizards!

I thank everyone at GiGi’s and here at the Gala tonight.

Meg and friends!