GiGi’s Playhouse, a Down Syndrome Achievement Center in Aurora that provides free educational, therapeutic, and career readiness programs to individuals with Down Syndrome and their families, receives honors at the Aurora City Council meeting Tuesday. Nancy Gianni, not in the photo, started GiGi’s Playhouse in 2003. The second center was founded in 2005 near the Fox Valley Mall in Aurora. From left, Nick Thompson, city of Aurora government employee and intern Justin Evans, who both made a GiGi’s Playhouse promotional video; Aurora Ward 8 alderwoman Patty Smith; Kathryn Smith, GiGi’s Playhouse Board member, Richard Irvin, mayor; and Katie Finke, and Bret Shannon, GiGi’s Playhouse Board members. Jason Crane/The Voice
