Girl Scout plans Easter event at GiGi's Playhouse in Hoffman Estates
On Saturday, April 12, Kelsey Louro, a senior from Schaumburg High School, hosted a very successful party as a project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award you can earn in Girl Scouts. The Easter Eggstravanza Party was held at GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center in Hoffman Estates.
GiGi's Playhouse empowers individuals with Down syndrome to reach their greatest potential. Their goal is to have those individuals live with confidence, joy and independence. All of the programs are free and all of the professional therapists and teachers donate their time. Families receive support in coping with the Down syndrome diagnosis and find help with everyday challenges. It's a great place for families to build connections with other families and the community.
The Easter party was open to all of GiGi's families and it is estimated that 80-100 guests attended. The majority of guests were children ages 3 weeks to 8 years old. A wonderful picnic lunch was served with hot dogs, baked beans, pasta salad, chips, sugar cookies and brownies. Activities included Bozo buckets, hula hoops, Pin-The-Tail-On-The Bunny, fun foam picture frame crafts and face painting.
The highlight of the party was when the Easter Bunny came to visit the children. The Easter Bunny stayed to take pictures with the families.
Kelsey received many positive comments from the GiGi's staff and from all of the family members. She had help from her family, her Girl Scout leader, as well as other Girl Scouts and their parents. Kelsey's goal was to introduce volunteers to the children and, hopefully, to increase a positive awareness of Down syndrome. She also wanted to empower the children with Down syndrome by connecting them with others in the community. The party was a huge success.
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