GiGi's Playhouse Partners With Pride Plumbing on Free "Ready. Set. Work." Job Readiness Training Program for People With Down Syndrome

Sep. 20 through Dec. 6—Register Now—Space is Limited

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sep. 14, 2021—GiGi's Playhouse Rochester and Pride Plumbing are partnering to provide an innovative program that provides professional work experience to teens and adults with Down syndrome with Ready. Set. Work. The free program will be held every Monday starting September 20 through December 6 from 4 to 5 p.m. at GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester, 372 N. Goodman Street, Rochester, NY. To register online visit gigisplayhouse.org/rochester/calendar/month or call (585) 563-7487.

Ready. Set. Work. helps engage GiGi's young adults who are 16 years and older by providing them with hands-on experience that marketing professionals are responsible for, while demonstrating their capabilities being productive members in the workplace, particularly when provided with the right training, support, encouragement, and opportunity. The program is led by Meghan Cacchione, Pride Plumbing's marketing and communications manager, and will focus on customer service skills, including inbound and outbound phone calls, creating and scheduling appointments, requesting feedback, responding to positive and negative feedback.

"Our pilot program was very successful in engaging young adult participants and providing them with insights on the day-to-day tasks our marketing professionals complete," said Jeff Donlon, GiGi's board member and partner at Catapult Solutions Group.

Gigi's Playhouse Rochester plans to develop more programming focused on career skills and professional development targeting young adults with Down syndrome regardless of their ability to break down barriers and bring awareness that people with Down syndrome can be valuable additions to the workforce.

Companies who are interested in partnering with GiGi's in future work experience programs may contact: Donna Rush drush@gigisplayhouse.org (585) 563-7487.

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About GiGi's Playhouse Rochester

GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester is a non-profit organization that serves people with Down syndrome from prenatal diagnosis to adulthood focusing on achievement, belief and confidence. Open since April 2017, it is part of GiGi's Playhouse network of 53 Down Syndrome Achievement Centers and growing across the United States and Mexico — the only network of its kind that provides free, life-changing therapeutic, educational and career training programs for 30,000+ individuals of all ages.

Through free programs and the Generation G Campaign for global acceptance, GiGi’s helps maximize opportunities for daily achievement and lasting acceptance. The program helps advance a vital social impact goal by showing the world what individuals with Down syndrome are capable of achieving as students, co-workers, volunteers, friends, and valued members of their communities.

For more information about free programs, volunteerism, impact partnerships, events, and the many ways to support GiGi's Playhouse Rochester families visit: gigisplayhouse.org/rochester.