GiGi's Playhouse and Windy City Bulls partner for inaugural Teddy Bear Toss

Event includes special performance of the Star Spangled Banner by GiGi!

Submitted by Donnita

GiGi Gianni will perform the game's National Anthem just before tip-off. Fans in attendance at the game, where Windy City will take on the Oklahoma City Blue, are encouraged to bring new or gently used Teddy bears to be collected and later distributed at GiGi's Playhouse Hoffman Estates location by players and staff of the Windy City Bulls organization during the holiday season. Before the game tip's off at 7 PM, GiGi Gianni, the inspiration for the playhouse which was founded by her mother Nancy Gianni, will perform the National Anthem. A portion of every $20 ticket purchased using special code "GiGi" via the Windy City Bulls' official website WindyCityBulls.com/PROMO will be donated back to GiGi's Playhouse to help vital playhouse programs like literacy tutoring, speech therapy, fitness and career training. The event will take place on Friday, November 25, 2016 at 7 p.m. At the Sears Centre Arena 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway Hoffman Estates, IL 60192.

About GiGi's Playhouse

Founded in 2003, GiGi's Playhouse is the only international network of Down syndrome achievement centers, changing lives through free programs for individuals of all ages. The organization makes a lifetime commitment to support and empower families from diagnosis to adulthood. GiGi's Playhouse also works to break down barriers and change the way the world sees people who are different, by promoting acceptance for all through the #GenerationG campaign. The goal is to have a GiGi's Playhouse in every state by 2021, targeting the underserved population of more than 450,000 Americans living with Down syndrome. The organization's national recognition is growing, with founder Nancy Gianni being named a 2016 CNN Hero. In October, she was featured on the national "Steve Harvey Show" as a "Game Changing Woman." GiGi's Playhouse survives completely on donor funds and is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. For more information about how you can help, visit www.GiGisplayhouse.org.

About the Windy City Bulls:

The Windy City Bulls, the official NBA Development League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, are competing in their inaugural season in the NBA Development League. Entering its 16th season, the NBA Development League has expanded to 22 teams for the 2016-17 season. For more information, visit WindyCityBulls.com.