Latest news with #Gigi'sPlayhouse
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Christmas in May' for Gigi's Playhouse
(WSYR-TV) — I'm sure you've heard of the concept, 'Christmas in July.' Well, this year, 'Christmas' is coming even earlier. 'Christmas in May' is the theme for this year's Gigi's Playhouse 5k and mile walk; part of the Gigi FIT Acceptance Challenge. Brielle Daily and Amy Cavallaro joined Bridge Street Tuesday morning to preview the event and to explain the importance of Gigi's Playhouse for individuals with autism and their families. The Gigi FIT Acceptance Challenge is Sunday, May 18th at Long Branch Park. If you would like to find out more information, or if you would like to register, head to Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mom, daughter talk to United Nations about Down Syndrome
(NewsNation) — Friday marks World Down Syndrome Day, which is meant to educate people about the diagnosis. On Thursday, Gigi Gianni, the 22-year-old namesake and chief inspiration officer for Gigi's Playhouse and her mother, Nancy, who founded the organization, went to speak about their experience at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Gigi's Playhouse is a non-profit that supports families and those with Down Syndrome by giving them education, therapy and eventually helping with building career skills, all for free. Michigan woman overcomes colon cancer, finishes Chicago Marathon Gigi Gianni says she was happy to speak to the United Nations about her journey. At the UN, Nancy Gianni said seeing her daughter talk about how she matters and is valued 'meant everything to me.' When Gigi Gianni was first born, Nancy said, the family knew there was a stigma about Down Syndrome. 'Once we got her home and saw what an amazing person she was back then and still is today, we opened the first Gigi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center,' Nancy Gianni said. Now, it has 61 locations, and serves families in 93 countries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
World Down Syndrome Awareness Day
DES MOINES, Iowa — World Down Syndrome Awareness Day is always March 21st, representing the triplicate of the 21st chromosome. Gigi's Playhouse will be hosting a party on Friday and one of the members is part of some fascinating Alzheimer's research studies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Palos South play sells out, Fleadh parade, and more
Palos South sells out 'Newsies Jr.' production More than 100 Palos School Middle School students participated in the musical 'Newsies Jr.' presented in late January at Stagg High School in Palos Hills at two sold-out evening shows. Students performed on stage, served as stage crew, ran lighting and sound and built sets. Leads included Paige Kribs as Jack Kelly, Bella Watson as Crutchie and Emily Koenig as Katherine. Palos South staff also was involved in the production. Jessica Marovich, eighth grade ELA teacher, directed the show, and eighth grade ELA/social studies teacher Kevin Graham was assistant director. Art teacher Randy Buvala led the play's set design, band director Stavros Makropoulos directed lighting and sound, and music teacher Amanda Schuller supervised vocal performances. Gigi's Playhouse to lead Fleadh parade in Oak Forest Gigi's Playhouse Tinley Park will serve as grand marshall when the Oak Forest Fleadh family parade steps off at 11 a.m. March 1 at 151st Street and Central Avenue and heads south to the Oak Forest Park District. As grand marshall, Gigi's Playhouse members and volunteers will lead about 50 parade units, including a pipe and drum band, schools and church, local businesses and civic and community groups. The event is hosted by the City of Oak Forest and Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce. Kim Malecky-Iles, director of the chamber, noted the event's importance. 'The Oak Forest Fleadh celebrates Irish culture and tradition as well as the people and businesses of Oak Forest,' she shared in a news release. 'We are honored to have Gigi's Playhouse lead our parade to help spread the organization's message of kindness and inclusivity.' The playhouse, which opened in September 2013, aims to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to change lives through its free therapeutic-based, educational and career development programs for people with Down syndrome, their families and the community. 'We are looking forward to celebrating our families and volunteers, promoting a more accepting world, and having lots of fun while doing it on Central Avenue,' Gigi's Playhouse site manager Karen Connelly shared in the release. Trivia night fundraiser for Flossmoor Veterans Flossmoor Veterans' Memorial will host its annual family-friendly trivia night starting at 7 p.m. March 14 at Flossmoor Community House, 847 Hutchison Road, Flossmoor. The six-round event includes 10 questions per round. First prize is $150, and second place is $75. Questions include topics such as zoo animals, TV shows, identifying famous sites by photograph and military trivia, with questions read by retired Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll, former commanding officer of the Blue Angels and a Homewood-Flossmoor High School alum. Commemorative bricks will be sold for $125, which includes engraving with the name and service of a veteran for installation in the plaza, and other merchandise will be sold. Thus far, more than $140,000 has been raised for the wall of honor project, retired Flossmoor Mayor Paul Braun, the organization's president, shared in a news release. He noted that trivia nights have added nearly $19,000 to the goal. The group is now clearing the 9.500-acre site owned by CN north of Flossmoor Road and east of the Metra/CN tracks and removing telegraph poles so construction can begin when warm weather arrives. The project will honor current and former Flossmoor residents who have served or are still serving in the Armed Forces. Advance registration is required for teams or individuals; seating is limited to 10 tables of six. Cost to participate is $20 per person or $100 per table. Purchase by visiting Project with Smith Village, St. Cajetan students aids veterans Students at St. Cajetan School in Chicago and residents of Smith Village in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood gathered recently for the 10th annual Valentines for Vets program, painting 16-inch heart-shaped wooden puzzles for 38 veterans benefiting from care because of the Road Home Program at Rush University Medical Center. Forty Smith Village residents and St. Cajetan student council members worked together on the project. Marine Corps Gold Star mother Modie Lavin, family outreach coordinator for the Road Home Program, said she picked up boxes of the puzzles and gave them to veterans who come to Rush from across the country. 'Our staff looks forward to the arrival of the creative valentines, which are different every year,' she noted in a news release. The Center hosts A Night To Linger for camp scholarship fund Fans of Italian food are invited to join A Night To Linger, a benefit for The Center's camp scholarship fund set for 5 to 9 p.m. March 13 at Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant, 14459 LaGrange Road, Orland Park. Dinner, silent auctions, raffles and a cash bar will be part of the fun. Proceeds will help send kids with limited financial means to a weeklong farm and ranch camp this summer. Registration already has begun. Tickets cost $50 per person. Buy online at or by calling 708-361-3650. Donations also are being accepted. Stagg Music Boosters seek artists for spring craft show A.A. Stagg High School Music Boosters is accepting applications for artists and crafts for its Art for the Season show, March 22 and 2 at the school, 111th Street and Roberts Road, Palos Hills. Cost is $95 per 80-square-foot space for both days. For an application, call 708-974-7520 or download one from or email staggcraftshow2003@
