GiGi’s Playhouse Buffalo to shine a light on World Down Syndrome Day on Thursday

Yellow and blue will be emblazoned Thursday night on several structures in the region, including Buffalo City Hall, to mark World Down Syndrome Day.    

Yellow and blue are the colors of Down syndrome awareness. The colors will show up on Niagara Falls, the Peace Bridge, Oishei Children’s Hospital, the Ford Water Tower, M&T Plaza and edifices owned by other members of the Buffalo Landmark Illumination Team, a partnership that raises awareness about important events and causes.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person has an extra copy of the 21st chromosome for a total of 47 chromosomes instead of 46.

The world marks Down Syndrome Awareness Day each March 21, said Will Mondschein, president of the board of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center.

GiGi’s Playhouse, 326 Kenmore Ave., serves those with Down syndrome and their families. It is part of a network of 55 other such facilities across the U.S. and Mexico. It will host a related celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. that will feature a DJ, hors d’oeuvres and giveaways. Registration is requested online at bit.ly/3ISzBQ8.