{"id":14119,"date":"2019-11-25T09:48:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T14:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/westchester\/?p=14119"},"modified":"2019-11-25T16:01:58","modified_gmt":"2019-11-25T21:01:58","slug":"inspire-to-give","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/westchester\/inspire-to-give\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspire to Give"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Ro<\/a>

Ro with her daughters Frankie and Danielle<\/p><\/div>\n

Frankie, a vivacious 20-year-old with Down syndrome, has been part of the GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Westchester community since we opened four years ago. Ro and Frankie have intimate experience with the positive and integral role GiGi\u2019s plays in our families lives.<\/p>\n

In 2018, Ro\u2019s husband Michael unexpectedly passed away, leaving Frankie without a father. Having GiGi\u2019s in their lives helped in keeping them moving forward in the face of unimaginable loss and heartbreak. Frankie continued to participate in several programs at the playhouse: Literacy 1-1 Tutoring, Cooking Club, Teen Tastic and Art Explosion. The support and sense of community that Ro and her family received – and continues to receive –\u00a0 at the playhouse was unparalleled. Ro was beyond grateful for the volunteers and staff who enveloped her family with love and compassion.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen my family and I decided that we wanted to do something to honor my husband, and to focus on the good in our lives, we immediately thought about GiGi\u2019s. There was nothing more important to Michael than his girls and giving back to GiGi’s for all that the playhouse had given to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a full year of planning, and with the assistance and steadfast support of family, friends, and the GiGi\u2019s Playhouse community, Ro and Frankie hosted their first event: a dinner\/dance on July 13, 2019, the one-year anniversary of Michael’s passing. It was a beautiful and meaningful celebration honoring Mikey\u2019s life all in the spirit of giving back. The event <\/b>raised <\/b>$6,000 for GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Westchester.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cMy husband would have been incredibly proud. I appreciate every volunteer that works with our kids. It\u2019s wonderful to see people care so much and to give of their time and energy for our kids\u201d<\/div>\n
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GiGi\u2019s influence in the community extends beyond the playhouse. After watching Frankie\u2019s encouraging progress over the last two years\u2014advancing several levels in her 1-1 Literacy program, a few of Frankie\u2019s teachers signed up to volunteer.<\/p>\n

Everyone who walks into GiGi\u2019s is accepted; it is a safe place where friends and family can let their hair down and laugh, or cry, or lend an ear (and a sturdy shoulder) in times of triumph and sorrow.<\/p>\n

And in their time of need, Ro and Frankie had a place to go that was just for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of us travel long distances to be at GiGi\u2019s,\u201d Ro says, \u201cbecause we know that when we walk through the front door it\u2019s like coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Every dollar matters!<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of our programs are offered for free to participants, but they are not free to run. Donations from friends like you help GiGi\u2019s continue to provide therapeutic, education and social programs:<\/p>\n