growwith us educate. inspire. believe.
gigisplayhouse.org/newyork
our board, staff, & committee Board Members Debbie Morris, President | Senior Vice President at AIG
Staff Members Jasmine Ferrer | Operations Coordinator
Jane Providenti, Vice President | Director within the Global Finance Organization at Deutsche Bank
Benny Kaufman | Programs Director Nina Gonzalez Sisson | Site Coordinator
Sharon Hart-Fanelli, Secretary | CPM, General Manager for Cushman & Wakefield, Corporate Occupier & Investment Services Jon Connolly, Treasurer | Managing Director and Senior Counsel within the Legal Department at BNY Mellon
Program Advisory Committee
Saudia Ally, Gala Chair | Co-Founder, Chief
Hilda Chusid
Marketing & Strategy Officer at Marvel US
Kathleen Feeley
Management and Heart A Cause
Tobie Franklin
Laura Blau | Attorney in private practice in New York City Ryan Brown, Development Chair | Wealth Director at BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Liza Galler Julia Harquil Bonnie Keilty Jordana Mendelson Tracy Nixon
Eric Fogarty | Vice President in the Investment
Kristen O’Brien
Management Division of Goldman Sachs & Co.
Emily Perl-Kingsley
Liza Galler, Governance Chair | Director of Job
Jane Providenti
Placement and Development for the Center for
Cary Williams
Special Needs at the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan (JCC Manhattan) Adam Hait | Entrepreneur and Innovator Gretchen Hayes | Managing Director of Guy Carpenter Rebecca Purnick | Vice President within the Finance Organization at Credit Suisse Frank Sawyer | Co-Founder and Principal at TeleGraphicMedia
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table of contents Our Board, Staff & Committee From Our Board President
1 3
Our Vision and Mission Our National Network
4 5
Programs
6
Our Achievements
7
From Our Playhouse Staff Our Founders Circle & Supporters
8 9
Financials
10
Growing Our Future
11
Take Action
12
Our Resources & Partners
13
Our Volunteers Our Volunteers & Special Acknowledgment
14 15
Our Community Did You Know? Save The Date
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16 17 18
from our board president Over the past four years, GiGi’s Playhouse NYC has grown to be a home away from home for those with Down syndrome, their families and friends. The programs we run, free of charge, positively impact the lives of those we serve from cradle through adulthood. We couldn’t do it without you! During 2016, we were able to run 13 different programs, including 2 new summer programs. Summer programming for our community while available, can be hard to find and expensive. Through the generosity of our partner, Invest for Children, we were able to launch two summer programs, Summer Adventures and Summer Clubhouse. Summer Clubhouse welcomes our younger participants to the Playhouse for mornings of creativity and socialization through experiences like gardening, painting and healthy food preparation. Our Summer Adventures provides our teens an opportunity to spend a full week with their age group, visiting the sights of NYC, creating healthy meals together, visiting parks, theatres and creative music and painting studios. While having a ton of fun, the focus is on building life skills and developing independence. One mother of a teen boy commented, “Summer Adventures made Shane’s summer!” Throughout 2016 we saw a dramatic increase in program participation and grew our number of dedicated volunteers. We partnered with New York Cares to launch Teen Tastic, a tween and teen social night. We expanded our Busy Bodies Program, which provides mentoring to new parents in addition to important skill building in babies. We held six interactive lectures for our families and caregivers and as always, there was a lot of music and dancing at the multiple community events we held. The upcoming year promises to be our most exciting yet. We are prepping for the launch of one-to- one literacy tutoring and a new dance class in 2017. We continue to partner with outstanding organizations around the city like The Ideal School and the JCC of Manhattan. These institutions allow us to expand our ability to offer more programming by lending us their space. Additionally we will be partnering with organizations in Brooklyn where we will offer programs to our Brooklyn population. There aren’t enough ways to say thank you to our generous donors, volunteers, and staff. But I do know that with you, we are able to provide the vital services we do for New York’s Down syndrome community. We are eternally grateful for your support. Thank you for coming along on this exciting and rewarding journey with us!
Debbie Morris
Board President
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our vision and mission OUR VISION: see a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted and embraced in their families, schools and communities.
OUR MISSION: increase positive awareness of Down syndrome
through national campaigns, educational programs and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.
WHAT MAKES GiGi’s PLAYHOUSE NYC UNIQUE? Purposeful Programs – provided at no cost Lifelong Commitments – to participants of all ages and their families Unbreakable Commitment to Acceptance – through Playhouse leaders and campaigns
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our national network
Nancy Gianni is the President and Founder of GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc. When Nancy gave birth to her daughter, GiGi, years ago, she was inspired to create a place where children with Down syndrome and their families could come together free of charge for education, awareness and fun. Through Nancy’s passion and commitment, there are now more than 30 GiGi’s Playhouses across the country, with plans for many more. GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc. empowers individuals with Down syndrome to reach their greatest potential. Thanks to Nancy’s inspiring vision, and the resources and hard work of our intrepid founders, Tracy Nixon and Debbie Morris and our former Executive Director, Britt Sady, GiGi’s Playhouse NYC opened its doors in 2012. As the only organization in New York City to specifically serve the Down syndrome community, GiGi’s Playhouse NYC has an important mission and a large community to serve. GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including GiGi’s Playhouse NYC, carry a 501(c)(3) exemption.
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our PROGRAMS GiGi’s Playhouse NYC provides therapeutic, educational and social programs for individuals with Down syndrome of all ages. From pre-natal diagnosis through social skills for our adults we make a lifetime commitment to our families. Each program is purposeful, progressive and always delivered at no cost to Playhouse families.
Manhattan Busy Bodies | playgroup to meet new friends, explore, and show off current and emerging abilities. Ages 2+. Leaps & Bounds | focuses on development of large and small muscle groups. Ages 3-5. LMNOP | “Language, Music N Our Peeps” incorporates sign language, communication tools and music. Ages 3+. 1-on-1 Literacy & Literacy Pods| builds a foundation in sight word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension, phonics and articulation. Ages 3+. DanceAbilities | therapeutically based dance program perfect for dancers of all abilities. Ages 3+. Playhouse Pals | supports the development of social skills and language through peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. Ages 6-8. Karate & Soccer | sport fundamentals while working on team work and fitness. Ages 6+. Teen Tastic | experience the fun of being a teenager, practice social skills, and build friendships. Ages 13-17. Bowling Buds | bowling activity/outing for adults of all abilities. Ages 18+. Fantastic Friends | adult social activity to practice social skills and build friendships. Ages 21+. Gratitude Committee | adults give back to the Playhouse through their art! Ages 21+.
Summer Clubhouse | kids engage in activities to develop motor skills, social, and language development through fitness, arts, cooking, and literacy activities. Ages 4-10. Summer Adventures | teens explore NYC and their independence with a one-to-one volunteer. Ages 13-19.
Brooklyn Busy Bodies | playgroup to meet new friends, explore, and show off current and emerging abilities. Ages 2+. Leaps & Bounds | focuses on development of large and small muscle groups. Ages 3-5.
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our achievements 3,215
Hours of Program & Event Attendance
2,145
Volunteer Hours
671
Total Number of Families Supported
165
Total Volunteers
110
New Families Served in 2016
1
Voice United in Taking Action for Lasting Acceptance
Future Satellite Programs
#GiGiPHNYC Future Satellite Programs Current Satellite Programs Future Satellite Programs
Families travel from all 5-boroughs to attend programs at GiGi’s Playhouse NYC. We are expanding our outreach with more satellite programs in the works.
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from our PLAYHOUSE STAFF As the onsite staff at GiGi’s Playhouse NYC we make sure everything at the Playhouse is running smoothly and oversee all operations that make our programs possible. From volunteer and program management, family engagement, events and fundraisers, we are behind-the-scenes making it all happen! As such, it has been our pleasure to watch our participants grow through participation in our programs, help the Playhouse grow to better serve our community, and impact the way New Yorkers see Down syndrome. And we continue to grow! Here are a few of the amazing accomplishments of GiGi’s Playhouse NYC in 2016:
Our network of families grew from over 450 families to almost 700 families, with 200 of those families attending Playhouse programs and events throughout the year.
The size of our network (donors, volunteers, newsletter subscribers, volunteers, professionals, and families) doubled to now over 4,000.
Our resources for new and expectant parents have expanded, with parent mentoring and expert lectures.
We marched in NYC’s Disability Pride Parade (promoting inclusion, awareness and visibility), participated in the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) Buddy Walk, and partnered with NDSS again for a wine and cheese night where we hosted Playhouse visitors from across the USA and the globe.
We launched our new Adventures and Clubhouse programs to provide free educational summer programs to the Down syndrome community for 5 weeks in July and August!
We welcomed the amazing Jasmine Ferrer to our team as our Operations Coordinator.
TeenTastic, a monthly program for teens with Down syndrome supported by NYCares, allows our teens to socialize with their friends, to make new ones and just have a fun Friday night out.
We continued to grow in Brooklyn offering Pop Up Programs in Red Hook, Clinton-Hill, and Crown Heights.
To our volunteers and donors, thank you for all that you have given to our community. We rely on your generosity to provide support to the Down syndrome community of New York City. To our families, thank you for being our inspiration and contributing so much to the community! We saw incredible growth in 2016 and with your continued support we will continue to provide free services to individuals with Down syndrome across the five boroughs!
Sincerely,
Benny Kaufman
Jasmine Ferrer
PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
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our SUPPORTERS Founders Circle Tracy Nixon Tom & JoAnn Fogarty Andrew & Debbie Morris Benno & Evelyn Ansbacher
Gaurang & Heather Trivedi Eric & Becky Fogarty Gretchen Hayes Matthew & Lauren Fogarty
$20,000 and above
$1,000 — $2,499
Benno & Evelyn Ansbacher Invest for children
Steve Amato
Merrill Lynch Corporation
Buzoi & Vanderpoorte Families
The Taft Foundation
Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation
Jean Sullivan & Richard Cane Jonathan & Rosemary Ansbacher Mitch Rubin & Audra Zuckerman Invest for children
Laura Blau
Carol Falcinelli Green & Reynolds Families
$10,000 — $19,999
Gary Hickox
AIG
Marsh and McLennan Companies
Jeff Lehtman
Eric & Becky Fogarty Howard Gilman Foundation Goldman, Sachs and Co. Marymount School of New York Tracy Nixon
GiGi’s Playhouse NYC is entirely locally funded by individual and corporate donations and foundation support.
NY Plumbing Heating-Cooling Corp. Providenti Family Robert B. Samuels, Inc. Jean Sullivan
Michael Lorch
Triple Crown Locksmith Co. Inc.
Paa Kow Pieterson Real Deal Decoration
$5,000 — $9,999
$500 — $999
APAX Foundation
Ryan Brown
Jon Connolly & Rachel Adams
Kristen DeBear
Ruth Erickson
Laura Fahsbender
Debbie & Andrew Morris Foundation
Guardian Services
Adam Hait
John Hegeman
Gretchen Hayes
Joseph Neto & Associates
Mary McMahon Otto Herrmann, Inc.
Kids for Kids Foundation Kolb Family
Platinum Maintenance
Evamarie Montanez
Richards, Kibbe & Orbe, LLP
Anita Murtha
Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr, LLP
Michele Natal OdysseyRe Foundation Perry Patterson Ana Pesa
$2,500 — $4,999
Ranjini Pillay
Jonathan Ansbacher Environmental Building Solutions, LLC
Safety Facility Services
Reydel Volkswagen Saraceni & Drummy Families Raymond & Kathyrn Schaub Gerald Sifert Diane Sweeney Words in the Works, LLC
Dancing for Down Syndrome ($200+) Safia Al-Rawi Mark Anderson III Jamie Dolan Emily Fanelli Emmett Fareth Nina Gonzalez Kimora Graves Ethan Hernandez Malik Jabbar
Tom Fogarty Mary Gonzalez Guardian Service Industries, Inc.
$200 — $499
Benny Kaufman Peter Loftis
Henegan Construction Co., Inc.
Al-Rawi and Scheel Household
Martyna Okuniewska
Michael & Jessy Nahmias in memory of Brandon Nahmias
Anonymous
Aedan Ptak
Karen Benett
Francesca Rosario
Marya Propis
Browne Supply Co.
Emma Scott
Julie Siler
Kathleen Harris
Justin Smalls
Gaurang Trivedi
Jessy’s Pastries in memory of Michael Nahmias
Laila Sully Kathryn Tejada
John Wayne Elementary School, PS380
Emma Vanderpoorte
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Jonathan and Regine Polenz Lewis
our FINANCIALS FOR EVERY $1.00 SPENT:
61¢ goes to programs
39¢
<1¢
goes to fundraising
goes to administration
0.65%
2016 Expenses* $441,703
38.82% 60.53%
Programs Fundraising General & Administration
*(i) Based on unaudited financials and subject to adjustment. (ii) 2016 fundraising expenses atypically high due to increased number of high value in-kind donations.
Over 90% of our annual expenditures go directly to programming and events that benefit our community and related fundraising.
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growing our future WHO HELPS US grow? We rely on the dedication, talent, and expertise of a core group of volunteers and staff to deliver our programs. We ask for a three-month commitment; the majority of our core volunteers have served for over two years.
HOW WILL WE grow? Through partnerships and in-kind donations, GiGi’s Playhouse NYC will provide programs in all 5 boroughs of New York City. We are currently seeking partnerships in Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx.
grow with us!
Fundraising Needs GiGi’s Playhouse NYC fully survives on the generosity of donations. Funds provide children and adults with Down syndrome, the lifelong access to no-cost purposeful programs without barriers or conditions. Every program dollar invested enriches lives and supplements many resources families seek beyond the Playhouse. Donations also advance our vision for global acceptance. GiGi’s Playhouse NYC is not just for our participants and families, it’s for the whole community. Every supporter creates a widening circle of dialog regarding our participants’ potential. As the circle of communication, engagement and investment expands; so does lasting acceptance.
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take ACTION Help
deliver lasting impact.
Donate
Activate
Your gift today can help change the
Join the conversation! Mobilize your networks
perception of Down syndrome tomorrow.
for good. #GiGiPHNYC
VISIT: gigisplayhouse.org/newyork EMAIL: nyc@gigisplayhouse.org CALL: (646) 801-PLAY (7529)
facebook.com/gigisplayhousenyc twitter.com/GiGiPHNYC
MAIL: PO Box 925, New York, NY 10026
instagram.com/nycgigisplayhouse
Future Gifts
youtube.com/gigisplayhousenyc
Help GiGi’s Playhouse NYC deliver lasting impact through a bequest. Contact us for information about including GiGi’s Playhouse NYC in your estate planning.
Advocate
Join
Speak up! Join GiGi’s Playhouse NYC in getting our elected officials to demonstrate their commitment to the Down syndrome community by joining the *Congressional Task Force on Down syndrome. Call, meet, inform your elected leaders.
To volunteer, attend an event or program, visit:
gigisplayhouse.org/newyork/volunteeropportunities gigisplayhouse.org/newyork/calendar
If they have joined, thank them on social media using hashtag #DsTaskForce.
congress.gov
* The purpose of the Task Force is to provide a forum in which Members of Congress and their staffs can actively engage in a dialogue to improve the quality of life for people with Down syndrome and their families. The Task Force is central to helping raise awareness of Down syndrome on Capitol Hill and promoting public policies that would enhance the quality of life for the more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States. Ask your elected official to contact Andrew Neill (andrew.neill@mail.house.gov) in Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ office and Brian Perkins (brian_perkins@moran.senate.gov) in Senator Jerry Moran’s office.
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our RESOURCES & partners
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our Volunteers Volunteers Matthew Adams Amelia Ahn Kerri Aidikoff Adrian Alvarado Veronica Amankwa Rosa Amendano Camille Amezcua Esther Arden Alysa Armstrong-Gibbs Kumiko Ashino Maria Assenza Elizabeth Atlas Bertha Avalos Stephanie Baez Kenan Bardt Jacqulyn Barrow David Beal Karen Benett Sydney Benett Nicki Berger John Bernstein Topher Bertone-Ledford Joshi Bhumi Eleanor Block Kirsten Bowen Torey Bowen Jacqueline Brathwaite Rolando Briceno Caitlin Britton Carmen Bromfield Katherine Brooks D’Andra Brown Emily Burke Norica Buzoi Olga Bykanova Danna Cabral Stacey Calcano Minta Canteral Katherine Cardy Garrett Carmichael Dave Carson Margaret Carter Sarah Carter Astrid Castano
Wakolbinger
Lauren Elliott
Olivia Haskins
Alexandra Ladynshy
Rosanna CastroRodriguez
Aliyah Ellison
Keisha Hawkins
Daniel Lafferty
Jeffrey Ellison
Nicole Hayden
Srinivas Lakhanigam
Jennifer Ersing
Nili Hayden
Meghan Latini
Vindyia Etwaroo
Lauren Haymon
Tim Lawrence
Aimee Fareth
Roro Headley
Mylinda Lee
George Ferrone
Bridget Heddens
Tirza Leibowitz
Holli Flack
Alexander Hermer
Graciela Lema
Breyanna Flowers
Alma Hernandez
Nancy Leonardo
Emily Foley
Carol Hernandez
Samantha Leonardo
Janie Fox
Lorena Hernandez
Samantha Leone
Kim Fracisi
Francy Herrara
Rivka Levine
Priscilla Frank
Brandt Hersh
Jonathan Lewis
Tobie Franklin
Jeremy Hersh
Kristen Liu
Megan Fucci
Bianca Higdon
Brandon Lopez
Yuko Fujitani
Angela Hilario
Shaqueen Lopez
Azza Gadou
Kimberly Hill
David Lorch
Daniel Galasso
Victoria Hinojosa
Melot Lorch
Alissa Galford
Holly Horn
Farah Lyner
Ana Ganarza
Teresa Howard
Marjorie Maguire
Araseli Garcia
Shali Huang
Allison Malaluan
Karina Garcia
Linda Irby
Rossy Mancebo
Siena Gioia
Meiling Jabbar
Melissa Mann
William Girtman
Carmen Jackmantorres
Jessica Mantell
Katherine Giunta
Julie Jacobs
Ruth Marvilla
Veronica Glen
Nicole Jansezian
Rosey Martinez
Mary “Nina” Gonzalez
Arun Janssens
Swabarene Matan
Ana Gonzalez de Cosio
Nadia Jarrett
Cameron Matthews
Christinea Grambas
Jasmine Jenkins
Darius Mayfield
Gina Graves
Kenya Johnson
Shamiah Mayfield
Karron Graves
Ethan Jones
Betty Mayhan
Serena Greene
Tiana Jones
Stacey McArdle
Martha Griffin
Lauretta Joseph
Vilma McCullough
Daisy Grijalva
John Keegan
Shanee McFarlane
Jernora Gross
Bonnie kelty
Mary Mckillop
Ivan Guan
Chris Kelley
Caroline Meier
Sanah Gul
Mark Kelley
Elizabeth Mendez
Inocencia Guzman
Robert Kelly
Lakshmi Menon
Liam Hackett
Reneda Kelsick
Sarah Minahan
Han Haeng Eum
Hannah Kendrick
Diane Moody
Kimberly Hall
Donna Kerr
Emperatriz Moreno
Juliana Han
Julia Kiele
Alexandra Ladynshy
Jay Handin
Molly Killeen
Noa Hankin
Tae Hee Kim
Julia Harquail
Emily Kuntz
Claire Harris
Veronica Labarca
Cindy Centurion Dan Chaplin Marie-Flore Charles Cindy Chau Kristy Chau Stella Chen Cory Chinn David Chung Hilda Chusid Alfredo Cid Yudy Cid Andrea Cintron Althea Clarke Yvette Colbert Banita coleman Victor Colletti Louise Contino Sarah Cooley Lauren Costabile Joycellyn Cox Prema Cruz Christian Cuartas Cecilia Cubilette Maria Cullimore Emily Darby Eunice Daudu Tisha Dave Robyne David Madeline Day Smith Jennifer Dejesus Jessica Demarest Renata Demichelis Wenella Dennison Shannon Denny Rosalie DiLiberto Joann Dolan Julia Donaldson Elrish Doyugan Kay Duncan Briana Dunn Niurka Echavarria Gary Edelstein Ellen Elcock O’Malley
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our Volunteers & special acknowledgment Volunteers
Special Acknowledgment
Anita Murtha
Kathleen Ross
Renee Tidaback
Marielle Narcisa
Lexi Ross
Patricia Torres-Nieves
Nithya Natarajan
Brianna Rowe
Lisa Tyson
Ana Neira
Natasha Rubright
Inga Urotadze
Kelly Neptune
Koby Sabghir
Liz Valerama
2econd Stage Theater
Ashrakat Nouh
Britt Sady
Anthony Vario
ABC News
Michael Nowak
Claudia Salazar
Marilena Vasilatos
Alice Lewis Design
Eileen O’Malley
David Salz
Yissel Vidals
Anna Louise Jiangco
Eddy O’Connor
Noah Salz
Griceleidy Villanueva
Andrew Walsh
Martyna Okuniewska
Esther Sanchez
Dana Volpe
Charity Grow
Sandy Olmedo
Shoshanna Sanders
Adrienne Wagner
Chris Wragge
Farah Onaid
Pina Sanelli
Vanessa Wallace
David Chung
Monica Ortiz
Rosa Santana
Brandon Ward
David Sheeger
Emily Orton
Divna Scepanovic
Elsbeth Wendell
David Weingarten
Leon P
Emma Schaeffer
Dena Wenner
DJ Yoshi
Charmaine Paige
Elizabeth Scheel
Shantae Wiggins
Dr. David Gudis
Adela Palmer
Laura Scheuing
Shauna Wiggins
Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Chris Paperik
Talia Schnipper
David Wilcox
Gesture
Rupal Patel
Jennaffalisa Scigliano
Cary Williams
H&R Block
Yeni Peña
Emma Scott
Delores Williams
Jennifer Bickerton
Vitali Penso
David Sheeger
Julia Williams
K’Lynn Jackman
Wendy Pineda
Gloria Shepherd
Octavia Williams
Karen Samet
Fatima Prioleau
Rachel Sherman
Nigel-Ann Williamson
Kenjiro Cut/David Color, Eiji Salon
Hannah Providenti
Alvin Shih
Hayden Wilson
Kirsten DeBear, MSEd, OTR
Dan Purnick
Chaya Shuchat
Kim Worthman
Let All the Children Play (LATCP)
Evelyn Quarshie
Rachel Siegel
Beth Wrubleski
Lisa Barzotto, MS, BCBA
Cassie Raffucci
Olivia Singelmann
Courtney Young
Marilyn Rubinstein
Karen Ramirez
Yamira Siu-Jabbaar
Lala Yusubova
Marvel US Management
Tahji Rattray
Ana Skrypczuk
Safa Yusuf
Mayor Bill de Blasio
Tatiana Rendon
Justin Smalls
Steven Zell
MME Ink
Christina Reppert
Malachi Solomon
Arielle Zellis
Museum of American Finance
Judith Reyes
Sa’Maya Solomon
Ada Zhou
N’Kenge
Michelle Reyes
Melissa Sosa
Karolina Zienkiewicz
New Victory Theater
Juan Reyes Pardo
Megan Soucy
Diana Zubek
Physique 57
Catherine ReyesMessineo
Paul Spagnoli
Ranjini Pillay
Mary Mckillop
Richard Kelley
Caroline Meier
Jenni Reynolds
Fernanda Standora
Kyrsten Rodriguez
Chloe Stewart
Row House
Elizabeth Mendez
Safia Al-Rawi
Lakshmi Menon
Maureen Rodriguez
Laila Sulley
Rina Rodriguez
Denise Supon
Sarah Fairchild
Sarah Minahan
Adriana Roman
Keshi Taryan-Kigel
Sarah Lee, LCSW
Diane Moody
Laura Romero
Mona Tauseef
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Emperatriz Moreno
Stefano Romero
Teresa Tavare
Soul Cycle
Andrew Morris
Leslie Rosado
Ana Tejada
Staples, Inc.
Steven Morris
Rachel Rosado
John Tester
Talbots
Mary Kate Morrow
Arelis Rosario
Emily Thomas
Ta-Lia Davis
Iliana Munoz
John Thomas
The Wayfarer
Daniel Lafferty Srinivas Lakhanigam Meghan Latini Tim Lawrence Mylinda Lee Tirza Leibowitz Graciela Lema Nancy Leonardo Samantha Leonardo Samantha Leone Rivka Levine Jonathan Lewis Kristen Liu Brandon Lopez Shaqueen Lopez David Lorch Melot Lorch Farah Lyner Marjorie Maguire Allison Malaluan Rossy Mancebo Melissa Mann Jessica Mantell Ruth Marvilla Rosey Martinez Swabarene Matan Cameron Matthews Darius Mayfield Shamiah Mayfield Betty Mayhan Stacey McArdle Vilma McCullough Shanee McFarlane
W New York
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Thank you for taking action to help children and adults with Down syndrome. Through your generosity and acceptance, together we will change the world!
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our COMMUNITY
did You know? Facts about We Opened our doors in 2012. Families visit GiGi’s Playhouse NYC from all 5 boroughs of New York City. Our members include newborns to adults, 50 years young, and new or expectant parents. Playhouse participants represent every ethnic, cultural, social, economic, and religious demographic in the Big Apple. We are New York City’s only community center specifically for individuals with Down syndrome and their loved ones. We promote a “Best of All” approach to our programs. It is a daily challenge to do a little better than you did the day before and it is always celebrated. Events and seminars are held throughout the year. Our annual celebrations include: World Down syndrome Day (WDSD) on 3/21, our “I have a Voice” Gala, Dancing For Down syndrome (D4DS) dance party, Fiesta Hispana, Halloween Party, Winter Celebration, and National Down syndrome “Acceptance” Month (NDSAM) activities in October. Hear our stories and get to know GiGi’s Playhouse NYC by signing up for our newsletter and reading our blog.
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP: tinyurl.com/GiGiPHNYCnews BLOG: gigisplayhouse.org/newyork/blog
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save THE DATE
What is Giving Tuesday? #GivingTuesday Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. It is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, here, in the United States. After Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season when many focus on their holiday and end of year giving.
How can you support
on Giving Tuesday?
You can support #GiGiPHNYC on Giving Tuesday by making a donation, sharing #GiGiPHNYC social media posts and following our social media outlets! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to use the hashtags
#givingtuesday #GiGiPHNYC
gigisplayhouse.org/newyork
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educate. inspire. believe. 106 W 117TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10026 (646) 801-PLAY (7529) | nyc@gigisplayhouse.org
gigisplayhouse.org/newyork
#GiGiPHNYC