Twin Cities Celebration Club supporting GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities
October Marathon to GiGi's Playhouse Fundraiser
A virtual marathon made spiritual: we're running 26.2 miles to raise critical funds to sustain GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities during COVID!
October Marathon to GiGi's Playhouse Fundraiser
A virtual marathon made spiritual: we're running 26.2 miles to raise critical funds to sustain GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities during COVID!
On October 24th at 8am, I (Karen Ryan) -- with the help and support of Ellie Muench and her team of volunteers -- will be running the Twin Cities Marathon via a unique route from my house to GiGi's Playhouse. This is what is known as a "virtual" marathon and I'm doing it to raise funds for the nonprofit GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities, a Down syndrome community center that provides free educational and skill building programs for individuals of all ages who have Down syndrome. As one of the 6 founding moms of GiGi's Playhouse, it is a special place for me and, more importantly, my daughter Violet & her best friend Ava Muench, and all the other wonderful members of the Down syndrome community in the Twin Cities.
On marathon morning, I (and other marathon friends) will run the 26.2 mile marathon distance from my house in Chanhassen, MN to GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities in St. Louis Park, as part of my effort to complete my 28th marathon (and first-ever “virtual” marathon) as part of the Twin Cities Marathon this year. Ellie will help with water stops, cheer zones and volunteer recruitment to support all of us on the course. Our goal (with a team of runners whom I hope will join me for all or part of this distance AND through efforts of those who help spread our message for fundraising) is to raise $10,000 . This will be a fun journey toward completing this, my 28th marathon.
More than ever, nonprofits like GiGi's Playhouse need the help of the community to sustain their viability during the COVID pandemic. While we await the ability for GiGi's to resume in-person programming, the virtual programming has been hugely successful and the GiGi's staff continues to work to meet the needs of the community. The beautiful GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities space is critical to the community and to programming in the future -- and with funds raised from this event, we'll be helping our community to be ready for that day.
Karen & Ellie & Violet & Ava and all of the nearly 2,000 families served by GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities thank you for your support!
Karen Ryan, Violet's Mom & Marathon Runner
Ellie Muench, Ava's Sister & Volunteer Director/Event Director
**Please note: GiGi's Playhouse is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is solely funded by donations. All monetary donations are tax deductible.
Virtual Marathon: From Violet's House to GiGi's Playhouse
On October 24th, I'll be running 26.2 miles from my house in Chanhassen, MN to GiGi's Playhouse in St. Louis Park, MN as a fundraiser for the free programming provided by GiGi's Playhouse for the Twin Cities Down syndrome community. I'm asking other runners to join me as well, and hope to raise $10,000 as part of this effort! Thank you!