GiGi Playhouse Rochester will hold its fifth annual fundraising Gala with the theme “Red Carpet Affair" on Saturday, March 14 at the Joseph A. Floreano Riverside Convention Center, 123 E Main St, Rochester, NY 14604. Free valet parking is available. Over 400 guests are expected to attend.

Proceeds from the Gala help support GiGi's free programming for people with Down syndrome in the Rochester region.

Guests will arrive photo-ready on a red carpet with cameras flashing! A cocktail reception and silent auction will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. followed by an award presentation, dinner, live auction, music, dancing, and casino tables from 7:30 til.. 

"The Gala is our largest and most important fundraiser of the year and celebrates GiGi's Playhouse Rochester's achievements and the way we change how people see Down syndrome. This year’s celebration is sure to top last year's and we're so excited to share the evening everyone,” said Jennifer Bustamante, GiGi's Playhouse Rochester president.

Tickets, tables and sponsorship packages are now available starting from $175 to $10,000. To buy tickets and for more information visit gigisplayhouse.org/rochester/gala or email rochester@gigisplayhouse.org.

Join us! for a Day of Fun, Acceptance & Respect for All! Bring the family! Bring a friend! Bring a neighbor! FREE! & Open to All! Free Parking!

The Golisano Foundation, Special Olympics, and Best Buddies will host the first ever Festival of Inclusion - an inspirational day of fun and games to kick-off this year's Spread the Word Inclusion campaign.

The event is FREE and open to all. Free parking available on campus. 

Event Highlights! 

• Sports activities such as "East vs. West" unified basketball tournament, pickleball, cheerleading, and tennis

• Music & dance fun with dance troops, singing groups, DJ and dance party

• Photobooth

• More than 40 community organizations set up inside the Training Center's perimeter track with interactive activity stations

• A pep rally starting at 11 a.m. with special guest speakers

• Food trucks located outside the Golisano Training Center entrance

• Tours of local department fire trucks, police cruisers, and other emergency vehicles

The Airport Games will return for its 20th year on Saturday, June 15. This is Lifetime's largest fundraising event of the year and includes the USAirports 5K Run/Walk, Flower City CrossFit 5K, Kids Fun Run, inflatable obstacle course, and more! Lifetime hopes to raise $140,000 at this year's Games. All funds benefit Lifetime's services including health and wellness programs, educational advancement opportunities, technology, essential adaptive lift and transfer equipment, Special Olympics training and more.

The CDC Rochester Reshaping Rochester Awards recognize exemplary regional initiatives and projects that positively impact people, neighborhoods, and the community. They will be presented at a luncheon. This year's Urban Observations keynote speaker will be the renowned sculptor, Albert Paley. Tickets go on sale in September. Last year's awards luncheon sold out.

Learn more.

The Workforce Diversity Network (WDN), the Rochester region's leading resource on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, will present the Defamation Experience – an interactive and engaging workshop that has been hailed as one of the most relevant and compelling diversity and inclusion programs ever presented.

Learn more.

Special Olympics is celebrating 50 years of empowering people of all abilities to reach their goals through sport, health and wellness. To celebrate this milestone, Special Olympics New York is hosting the inaugural Walk for Inclusion at the future site of the new Golisano Training Center at Nazareth College.