The following article appeared in the July 28, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Charity spotlight: GiGi’s Playhouse builds community through support and learning
Participants and officers gather for GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte’s annual “Pizza with the Police” event, an opportunity to build trust and celebrate inclusion. (Photo courtesy of Megan Smith)
by Morgan Boonshaft
Last month, Christian could hardly wait for the annual “Pizza with the Police” event at GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte. The moment he walked in, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers from the year before recognized him, and Christian, 21, remembered every one of them, too.
“These are people [Christian] used to be afraid of,” said Aysen Ulupinar, operations manager at GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte. “Now he calls them his friends.”
Moments like this capture the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse: to change perceptions of Down syndrome and foster a culture of inclusion.
Located off I-485 and South Tryon Street, GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte is a Down syndrome achievement center that offers free therapeutic, educational and career development programs for individuals of all ages. The 4,000-square-foot facility opened in April 2019 and is one of 62 locations nationwide.
It’s part of a growing national network with over 300,000 annual program participation hours across the country. Though its core focus is on individuals with Down syndrome, the Playhouse is intentionally inclusive.
“We don’t count chromosomes at the door,” said Megan Smith, Playhouse and development manager. “If someone can benefit from what we offer, they’re welcome.”
Programs range from one-on-one literacy and math tutoring to group classes like GiGiFIT, an exercise class, GiGi’s Kitchen, a cooking class, and Kids Club, a setting to develop social skills. The goal is to support development and growth at every stage, from early learners to adults preparing for the workforce. There are even prenatal and early childhood resources to guide families from the very beginning.
GiGi’s impact can be seen in participants like Melia Simon, a prom queen, singer and now a GiGi’s Ambassador. Simon, 23, joined the GiGi Prep program, a workforce readiness initiative, and later spoke to executives at Brighthouse Financial about the importance of including individuals with special needs in the workforce.
Beyond the walls of the Playhouse, the team also works to educate the broader community. Smith visits schools across Charlotte to promote inclusion and awareness, emphasizing that “we’re all more alike than we are different.” A more recent outreach initiative involves partnering with hospitals to deliver congratulatory bags to families of newborns with Down syndrome, a small gesture that signals hope and belonging from day one.
While all programs are free for families, running the Playhouse is not; rent, supplies and electricity depend on outside support. The nonprofit is entirely donor-funded and supported through grants, individual giving, and fundraising events.
Volunteers are the heart of GiGi’s Playhouse. From tutoring, leading a cooking class, planning events or creating flyers, there are opportunities for everyone to support the Playhouse. The Charlotte location is small but mighty: just two full-time and one part-time staff member run the center.
Thanks to the consistent support of volunteers, the Playhouse has become a community where confidence is built, friendships are formed and differences are celebrated, Smith said. For families navigating an uncertain world, it offers something simple but powerful: a place to belong.
Morgan Boonshaft is an intern for The Charlotte Ledger. She is a rising sophomore at Brown University and a graduate of Providence Day School in Charlotte.
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