We opened on May 16, 2021, to serve families and create a space for the community to give back. GiGi’s Playhouse offers FREE programs that empower children and adults with Down syndrome through education, therapy, and career development. We foster skills, confidence, and connections—all in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Our GiGi’s Kitchen program fosters a healthy lifestyle by equipping participants with practical cooking skills. Guided by our program leaders, they’ll develop healthy eating habits, kitchen safety awareness, and food preparation techniques while building self-confidence and social skills—all through the joy of preparing and sharing a meal!
Speech Therapy and Tutoring
By donating to our Playhouse, you are helping us continue to provide programs, such as 1:1 speech therapy and literacy tutoring, to children and adults with Down syndrome. Our participants are learning to read, write, and communicate in ways they never have before! Children with Down syndrome need support at an early age to be able to gain essential literacy and speech skills. Receiving services such as speech and tutoring at a young age is beneficial. However, there is always time for our teen and adult participants to gain skills! We meet our participants where they are and build their confidence with speech and language goals that set them up for success and mastery.
Group Programs Starting at Birth
We are a resource and place of support for new parents. We provide programs designed for individuals with Down syndrome of ALL ages!
LMNOP is our early language music program for babies and toddlers ages 0-3
Leaps & Bounds and Playhouse Pals for school aged children
Teen Tastic for teens with and without Down syndrome to come together and create a place of acceptance
Fantastic Friends for adults 18 and up
Cooking in GiGi's Kitchen, Exercise in GiGiFIT, Music, Dance and more!
Beyond Programs - We are a place where relationships are built
Stephen and Charlotte are both participants of our Adult program, Fantastic Friends, and have formed a relationship into boyfriend and girlfriend! Their very first date was at our World Down Syndrome Day fundraiser last year, at Leatherby's Family Creamery in Citrus Heights. It is a joy to see how much they have individually flourished from the programs at our Playhouse and how they have come together to show our community that EVERYONE is deserving of love.
Volunteers Make it Possible
We are a volunteer run organization that relies on the skill and dedication of volunteers with various levels of expertise to keep our organization and our programs vibrant, educational, fun, and free. Being a part of our Playhouse, even if you do not have a loved one with Down syndrome in your life, will positively impact your life in so many ways. Even committing to 1 hour a week, you can change the world for one child or one adult, because of YOUR generosity.
If you are interested in donating your talent and time sign up to become a volunteer today!
Our Purpose: To change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.
Our Mission: We make a lifetime commitment to changing lives and providing hope through the consistent delivery of FREE educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community, using a replicable playhouse model.
Our Vision: To see a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted and embraced in their families, schools, and communities.
Our Promise: A lifetime commitment to families.
Needs
Unrestricted funding for our FREE programs:
GiGi's Playhouse Sacramento opened its doors on May 16, 2021, and our greatest need is unrestricted funding. From the moment we opened, we have been providing 100% FREE therapeutic, career, and educational programs to individuals with Down syndrome and their families, thanks to the generosity of our donors and hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers. However, while our programs are provided free of charge to families, they are not free to deliver. For instance, it costs approximately $200 per individual to deliver a 10-week 1:1 Literacy Program session.
GiGi's Playhouse Sacramento will also gladly accept in-kind donations of program materials (from places like Lakeshore Learning, Amazon, Target, etc.), as well as printing services.
Passionate Volunteers:
GiGi's Playhouse is a volunteer-run organization that relies on the skill and dedication of volunteers with various levels of expertise to keep our organization and our programs vibrant, educational, fun, and free. Since the first Playhouse opened in 2003, GiGi's Playhouse programs have always been free for our families. Parents, family members, clinicians, and individuals who believe in the GiGi's Playhouse mission act as volunteers in GiGi's Playhouse programs, events, administrative offices, and on our Board. If you are interested in donating your talent and time, let us know!
Equity Statement
At GiGi's Playhouse Sacramento, we are committed to fostering an environment of acceptance where everyone, regardless of ability, race, gender, familial status, ethnicity, nationality, background, socio-economic status, or sexual identity, is celebrated and valued.
We believe in equity and strive to ensure that all individuals have equal access to our FREE programs, services, and opportunities. Through our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we aim to create a welcoming community where differences are embraced, and everyone can thrive.
We ensure that each of our Board members, staff, volunteers, sponsors, donors, event vendors, and family members are treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. As an organization and Board of Managers, our equity statement is shown through our vision, mission, life-long promise to our families, board composition, governance, and program development.
We are committed to listening, learning, and continuously improving to promote equity and social justice for all.