Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: GiGi’s Playhouse
Mailing Address: 2350 W Higgins Rd
City: Hoffman Estates
State: IL
Postal Code: 60169-2413
Main Phone: 8478857529
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://gigisplayhouse.org/
Employer ID Number: 20-0058563
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 10/28/2024
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: One-on-One Literacy Tutoring for Youth with Down syndrome
Project Description:

The mission of GiGi’s Playhouse is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all. We change lives through the consistent delivery of FREE educational, therapeutic-based, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community, through a replicable playhouse model. Since opening our doors in 2003, our commitment to the delivery of free, high-quality programming ensures families can experience the full benefits of GiGi’s programming without any additional financial burden.

Among many other programs that empower our participants learn, grow, and succeed, the GiGi’s Playhouse one-on-one Literacy Tutoring program is designed to improve academic success for students with Down syndrome using best practices that maximize achievement. Our research-based curriculum encompasses a variety of strategies and techniques, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn through personalized, multi-sensory, strength-based modalities to build confidence and success.

Students start in our program as young as age three and continue through high school graduation. Weekly lessons last 45-60 minutes for 10-15 weeks at a time, and are conducted by specially trained volunteers who record each session’s data in our Progress Tracker tool. In addition to significant growth in literacy skills, participants also show improvements in speech and language development, auditory perceptual skills, and working memory function.

Demand for our programming continues to grow as more families find their home away from home at GiGi’s Playhouse, and we currently have a waitlist for our Literacy Tutoring Program. A $10,000 contribution from the Hermanowski Foundation would enable us to recruit and train more volunteer tutors, replenish program supplies and materials, integrate additional technology to support our multi-media, multi-sensory approach, and create and share outreach materials to bring awareness to this empowering educational opportunity in 2025.

Total Project Budget: $75,670

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Innovating Worthy Projects Foundation (Potential), Turano Foundation (Potential),

Project Duration: One year – 2025 Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions
Geographical Area Served: Greater Chicagoland area, Illinois
Age Group To Be Served: 3-20

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Lorien
Contact Last Name: Faber
Contact Title: Grant Writer
Contact Phone: 865-771-1573
Contact Email: grants@gigisplayhouse.org