GiGi's Playhouse will host a Casino Royale Gala fundraiser on Saturday, April 6, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster. GiGi's plans to welcome about 275 guests, including families, participants with Down syndrome, sponsors, supporters, and community members. Anyone from the community may attend to learn more about GiGi's Playhouse, whose mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and send a global message of acceptance for all. The event also offers a time for parents to connect and for participants with Down syndrome to be celebrated and accepted.

The event will include live music by Colin York, a DJ, dancing, food, and drinks. More than 30 items and experiences will be up for bids in a silent auction, and more than 50 prizes will be given away in drawings. Games, including a prize wheel, will offer opportunities to win mystery wine bottles and restaurant gift cards.

Attendees may view a live dance performance by the GiGi's Dance Team and a violin performance by an adult with Down syndrome. An adult with Down syndrome and a mother who has a young child with Down syndrome will speak about the impact GiGi's has had on them, and the organization's programs coordinator will share about the impact GiGi's has made in the community. Attendees may also view videos focused on the national GiGi's Playhouse Inc. and on the Lancaster location.

Attendees are encouraged to wear formal attire. To purchase tickets, visit https://gigisplayhouse.org/lancaster/gala/. Sponsorships are available, and the gala committee is seeking donations of silent auction items, such as gift cards, goods, services, experiences, baskets, or items from individuals, organizations, or businesses.

GiGi's Playhouse Lancaster celebrated its four-year anniversary of delivering free programming in January and will celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on Thursday, March 21. On average, the Playhouse provides more than 400 hours of free programming each month, such as 1:1 literacy and math tutoring, GiGiFIT Fitness activities, Teen Tastic, Fantastic Friends adult programming, Destination Discovery programming for children, and LMNOP programming for infants and toddlers.

GiGi's Playhouse Lancaster is a year into its Believe in Our Build capital campaign to help raise funds to move into a bigger facility to serve more families. The grand re-opening is tentatively expected to occur in the spring.

GiGi's Playhouse is an international network of Down syndrome achievement centers offering educational, therapeutic and career development programs from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood. There are more than 58 locations across the U.S. and Mexico, as well as a virtual Playhouse that reaches 83 countries.

For more information about Gigi's Playhouse or to donate to the Believe in Our Build capital campaign or to volunteer, email lancaster@gigisplayhouse.org.