Cause Captain: Deja Kelly Advocates for Inclusion with Gigi's Playhouse
At the end of each Athletes Unlimited season, the league, powered by Give Lively and the Give Lively Foundation, makes a grant equal to 100% of each athlete’s end-of-season win bonus to the non-profit of the athlete’s choice.
Throughout this AU Pro Basketball season, fans can also help raise awareness of each athlete’s cause. Each week, fans can vote on which athlete’s cause they would like to learn more about, spotlighting the organizations and issues that matter most to Athletes Unlimited athletes both on and off the court.
For Week Three, Deja Kelly was chosen to speak about her cause: Gigi’s Playhouse, an organization that provides free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. The organization’s mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.
Q: What inspired you to choose Gigi’s Playhouse as your athlete cause?
Kelly: My cause is Gigi’s Playhouse, and I picked it because this kind of hits close to home for me. I have two twin cousins who have special needs, as well as another younger cousin who has Down syndrome. Gigi’s Playhouse brings awareness to kids with disabilities, allows inclusion, allows them spaces to be that help them with employment. It’s for all ages. So I think it’s something that’s really important. It means a lot.
Q: How did you get connected with Gigi’s Playhouse?
Kelly: I did some volunteer work at Gigi’s Playhouse in Raleigh when I was at UNC. I was able to just see their day-to-day life and see what that looks like. It’s such an important space. It’s such an important foundation that they created.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a voice for people like your cousins who may not have the ability to speak for themselves?
Kelly: I think it’s super important, especially to be a part of a cause like that. Seeing how they can help kids who can’t advocate for themselves, it’s so important, and I would want that for my family. I would want that for my cousins, and I want that for any kids with those disabilities, those special disabilities that make them so great and so special.
Q: What do you wish that everyone understood about Down syndrome and individuals with special needs?
Kelly: That they’re people. They’re normal human beings. Just because they have a disability or special needs doesn’t make them any less of a human being. I think we should treat them as such and include them in certain things. I know there’s obviously some difficulties, but I think that’s where we come in and help as much as we can, try to advocate and bring awareness, and just give love and make them feel included.
Gigi’s Playhouse makes a lifetime commitment to changing lives by offering free programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. Fans can support the mission by donating or volunteering.
Learn more about AU’s Athlete Cause Program
Take part in AU’s weekly Cause Captain voting process on Instagram @auprobasketball, or take the Cause Captain Quiz here.
