Fox Point's Gigi's Playhouse receives donation for new tutoring center

 

FOX POINT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Families affected by down syndrome gathered in appreciation tonight for a center that is served as a solid resource in the Milwaukee community.

Everything you see in this room here is all thanks to grants and donations and this right here is the latest. It is a room that is going to be especially made for one-on-one tutoring for kids.

Brightly colored walls, new carpeting and toys -- a lot of educational toys greeted the Vander Grinten family. Mom, dad and two boys made the trip from Fond Du Lac.

"It's such a great community," said mother, Alexandra Vander Grinten.

For this young family, it's been five months of trying to find resources. Pierce was diagnosed with down syndrome at birth.

"So that was the big thing when he was born, it was a new journey, so we didn't know," said father, Zach Vander Grinten. "We kind of felt alone, so now it's the exact opposite. We talk to more people than we did before.

Gigi's Playhouse serves 400 families every year, like the Vander Grintens.

"So it offers you programming from birth through adults, but also provides great social opportunities for our parents to connect with other parents who are going through the same things that they're going through," said Board President Sue Pelikan.

Sue Pelikan has a unique perspective -- not only as a board member -- but also as a mom. She has watched her son grow through Gigi's for the past five years.

"We're really happy to celebrate our grand opening because it not only shows that we came through the pandemic, but we thrived," said Pelikan.

Chris VandenHouten is 23. He says he loves coming to Gigi's for the friendships and the exercise.

We asked what he thought about the cutting of the ribbon. "It was fantastic. Love to come to Gigi's so let's keep celebrating baby," said Chad VandenHouten.

Gigi's offers free programming. Their platform is to change the way Milwaukee views down syndrome. The Playhouse is open to all to learn, socialize and play.

This Gigi's Playhouse is one of 56 in the country. It has been here since 2015.