Over 120 guests enjoyed an evening celebrating GiGi's Playhouse's Inaugural National event with a cocktail reception at the Core Club on East 55th Street. The evening was highlighted by the live video stream, a telecasted message from the founder Nancy Gianni, an opportunity that linked GiGi’s Playhouses in all five cities to the national office in Chicago and a chance to meet new people and support the Down syndrome community.
Special guest, Miss New York USA, Amber Collins was in attendance and made welcoming remarks to the guests. Ms. Collins is a keen supporter of the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse NYC. Guests included Jill and Bill Harvey, David Howell, Betty and Lou Craco, Adrian Saldana, Marilee Reilly, Dennis Goodenough, John and Robin Gilles, Lori and Robert Maccarrone, Julie Tupler, Angelica Alonso, Peter Fisher, Dr June and Stanley Blum, Joanne and Tom Fogarty, Matt Fogerty, Heather Trivedi, Lauren Fogarty, Karen and Alex Bartole, Rosemary Suh, Sean Watts, Tracy Nixon, Sheri Nixon, Randy and Andrea Nixon, Anna and Dionysi Grevenitis, Ian and Claudine McCartney, Andrew Morris, Seleta Harrison, Teliah Sites.
Silent auction items included a one-week stay at a luxury vacation house in St. Croix, prime orchestra tickets to the American Ballet Theatre 2011 Spring Season and a Roundabout Theatre package of tickets and backstage tour for The Importance of Being Ernest.
Gigi’s playhouses are colorful, welcoming community centers that provide everything from prenatal diagnosis support to math and literacy classes for young children to movie nights and mixers for tweens. These educational centers provide resources, specialized teaching and support to individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. Two NYC mothers, Tracy Nixon and Debbie Morris, are spearheading the effort to bring GiGi's Playhouse to NYC in the spring, which will surely be a wonderful and much-needed addition to the special needs community of New York City.
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