Alisha Fitzwater, of Lancaster, was named the GiGi's Playhouse National Volunteer of the Year at the organization's recent annual conference in Schaumburg, Ill. Fitzwater has volunteered at GiGi's Playhouse Lancaster as the program coordinator since its opening in January 2020. GiGi's Playhouse offers therapeutic, educational, and career development programs for individuals of all ages with Down syndrome, their families, and the community.

Fitzwater received the award from Nancy Gianni, founder and chief belief officer of GiGi's Playhouse, during the 2021 GiGi's National Leadership Conference. Fitzwater and three others from Lancaster attended the five-day gathering for staff and volunteers from Playhouses all over the country.

Fitzwater is a special education teacher for the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 and a graduate of Millersville University. Her 6-year-old niece, Bella, has Down syndrome.

A group of volunteers, including Fitzwater, worked for four years guided by the National Office to create the Lancaster Playhouse, which is located at 2503 Oregon Pike. Lancaster was the 48th Playhouse to join the network. When COVID-19 closed its doors just two months later, Fitzwater and others connected with families online, using digital resources provided by the National Office. In the Lancaster Playhouse's first year, nearly 800 participants benefited from its free, results-driven programs.

All GiGi's Playhouses provide programs at no cost to participating families to ensure that cost will never be a barrier to achievement or acceptance.