FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Business owners in a South Fargo strip mall are piecing together how to move forward after a fire ripped through the building Tuesday. Below a charred roof at the strip mall, three words hang tough: educate, inspire and believe. Those three words embody the mission behind GiGi’s Playhouse: North Dakota’s first and only Down syndrome achievement…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fire officials are still piecing together the cause of a South Fargo strip mall fire. Businesses are left ruined after a fire tore through the Southpointe Business Park strip mall. Flames destroying Bodyworks Physical Therapy and Gigi’s Playhouse. Our drone capturing the roof of Gigi’s Playhouse completely charred. Most of the building’s roof left destroyed. Workers…
WEST FARGO, N.D.– Gigi’s Playhouse walks every year to celebrate their loved ones with Down syndrome. Because of COVID-19, this year looks a little different. Sydney Brantl’s family is walking a mile in their neighborhood to celebrate her and to raise money for Gigi’s Playhouse– an organization that they say means so much to them. “It’s just a great place…
FARGO, N.D. –Gigi’s Playhouse is committed to continuing to provide for it’s community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is not a time for us to hit pause, it is a time for us to hit play and continue to serve our families,” says the Fargo organizations site manager, Heather Lorenzen. The organization, which offers free educational and therapeutic programs to…
MOORHEAD, Minn. — This army is a little different than most. Its youngest member is only 19 months old. “We’re here walking for Cohen. Our son, who has Down syndrome,” said Cohen’s mom and participant in the walk, Sarah Nordin. Cohen’s Army includes nearly 60 family members and friends supporting him and others in the community with Down syndrome. “We…
FARGO, N.D. — About 200 people were at the grand re–opening of GiGi’s Playhouse in Fargo. It’s North Dakota’s only achievement center for people with Down syndrome. The facility originally opened 16 years ago. Now, it’s celebrating its growth over the years with the addition of new programs and a building renovation. The expansion project is going by the…
FARGO, N.D. — The Valley City State Vikings women’s basketball team has had plenty of success over the last few years, finishing 25-5 with a trip to the NAIA National Tournament last season. But the team’s true heart and soul doesn’t suit up on the court. Instead, Lily Rudnick, 10, pumps up the Vikings with her energy and strength. “Over the…
FARGO, N.D. — Gigi’s Playhouse, a Down Syndrome achievement center, has a fun way to help preschool kids learn skills. Their Leaps and Bounds program focuses on a different letter from the alphabet each week. Today’s letter was “S,” so kids learned about things ranging from safety to being silly to singing songs. Kids’ siblings can also join in on the…
FARGO, N.D. — Gigi’s Playhouse decided to do something a little different to celebrate world Down Syndrome Day this year. Instead of a pizza party, the organization is giving back to the community. 24–year–old Blake Johnson is just like everyone else. “I do everything my friends do,” Johnson said. Some of his favorite things to do include listening to his…
FARGO, N.D. — Tomorrow is the International Day of Happiness. To celebrate, Gigi’s Playhouse in Fargo is doing a wall of happiness. You are invited to write something you do to make other people smile or be happy. The wall will be up all week long. If you can’t make it in, you can also post on social media, along…
