GNY EP.179 | feat. Ruth Ann Riposa from ProNexus & Alyssa Johnston from GiGi’s Playhouse
Welcome back to Good News York! In this episode, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Ruth Ann Riposa, interim board president of GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse and founder of ProNexus, and Alyssa Johnston, Executive Director of GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse, to talk about the incredible work being done for individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities right here in Central New York.
Alyssa walks us through everything GiGi’s Playhouse offers — from free math and literacy tutoring, speech therapy, and fitness programs to kitchen skills classes and socialization opportunities, all at no cost to families. She paints a picture of what it feels like to walk through the doors: a welcoming, judgment-free space designed to help people practice being their best so they can carry that confidence out into the world. She also shares the remarkable growth GiGi’s has experienced, including a 40% increase in programming, nearly 100 additional families served annually, and a current pace of over 1,000 hours of free programming per month.
Ruth Ann shares the origin story of GiGi’s — founded by a mom who learned her daughter would be born with Down syndrome and simply wanted better for her child. That spirit, she says, is something every visitor feels the moment they step inside. She also introduces ProNexus, her firm specializing in nonprofit finance, accounting, interim executive coverage, and retained executive search — including the search that brought Alyssa to GiGi’s in the first place.
The conversation takes a deeply moving turn as Alyssa tells the story of Sebi, a young boy once told he would likely never read — who eventually surprised his mother by asking to read her a bedside story. It is exactly the kind of transformation GiGi’s makes possible every single day.
The episode closes with a direct call to action: GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse is currently raising $50,000 over the next three months and is actively looking for volunteers, board members, donors, and community partners to help grow their mission in Central New York.
🌐 Good News York: www.goodnewsyork.com
🏠 GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse: gigisplayhouse.org/syracuse
💼 ProNexus: www.pronexusllc.com
📺 Click Stream Studios: www.ClickStreamStudios.com
This episode is sponsored by Ads on the Go — helping businesses grow with smart, effective advertising solutions. Learn more at www.getadsonthego.com.
Chapters:
0:33 – Introduction & Welcome
1:00 – What is GiGi’s Playhouse?
2:29 – A Tour of the Playhouse
5:30 – Building Community & Family Support Networks
7:18 – GiGi’s Growth: 1,000+ Hours of Programming Per Month
8:17 – Introducing ProNexus & How Alyssa Found GiGi’s
12:38 – The Origin Story: GiGi’s Was Started by a Mom
14:38 – Sebi’s Story: A Boy Who Learned to Read
15:58 – Adult Programming & Board Representation
17:10 – How to Interact with People with Disabilities
19:30 – Alyssa’s Personal Journey to GiGi’s
21:08 – How to Get Involved & Support GiGi’s
24:03 – ProNexus Services for Nonprofits
Good News York is filmed at Click Stream Studios, located at 689 North Clinton Street in Syracuse, NY. Interested in a FREE marketing plan for your business? Visit call.clickstreamstudios.com to get started.
