New leader chosen for the Playhouse

FORT WAYNE, IN (AAPDN) – The GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne Board of Directors has recently named Mandy Drakeford as its new executive director.  She is a nonprofit leader with more than a decade of experience in fundraising, marketing, public relations and digital communications, will manage and direct Fort Wayne’s operations, fundraising strategy, marketing campaigns and community outreach.

    “Mandy’s professional background, coupled with her passion for transforming lives through philanthropy, is critical to our mission at GiGi’s Playhouse as we strive to reach more individuals and families with Down syndrome,” said Board President of GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne Doug Atkinson. “Since our opening in 2016, we have grown to serve more than 300 families, and we are confident Mandy will continue this momentum.”

     Drakeford has held an executive leadership position with SCAN, Inc., serving as Chief Philanthropy Officer. She also served on the senior team at the Levine Museum of the New South and held marketing positions with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and the University of Cincinnati Foundation. In addition, she has worked as an adjunct instructor for the University of Cincinnati and the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.

“It is an honor to be selected for this leadership role with such an essential nonprofit here in our community. I look forward to working with the board, staff, and partners to help change lives through our free purposeful programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families,” Drakeford said. “With our community’s support, we can transform the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of children and adults with Down syndrome in Fort Wayne and beyond.”

For more on the GiGi Playhouse programing as well as the national GiGi’s Kitchen Live, including their 6^th Annual Gala to be presented virtually during this COVID-19 Pandemic, where the event will celebrate an extraordinary year of growth, achievement and empowerment, see: www.gigisplayhouse.org/fortwayne