Gift of Play

BIG NEWS! 🎉🦅

We are honored to announce that Gift of Play has received a $2,500 donation from the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation! 🤩😭

This incredible gift will help bring one of our most exciting future learning spaces to life, our Wildlife Discovery Corner. Inspired by the amazing wildlife that calls Southwest Florida home, this area will encourage children to explore, observe, and develop a love for nature through hands-on play and discovery.🌿✨

From eagles and turtles to native habitats, we hope this space will spark curiosity, inspire conservation, and help little learners connect with the natural world around them.🦅🐢🔍

We are so grateful to the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation for believing in our mission and investing in the children and families of our community. Your generosity is helping us create meaningful opportunities for learning, exploration, and wonder.🌈✨

As a community-funded dream, every contribution makes a difference, and we are honored to have the support of an organization that shares a passion for education, conservation, and inspiring future generations.🙌🏼🥰

Thank you for believing in our mission, Ginnie and helping us build something truly special for local families.🙏🏼

With so much love gratitude,
Corey & the Gift of Play Family 🌈🦅🖤🌿

Love these! 🎉

✨ Why Gift of Play? ✨

You might be wondering where the name came from... 🌈

And the answer starts with something simple. My last name is Gift. 🖤

When I first dreamed of creating this space, I wanted a name that felt personal, something that reflected both my family and my passion for early childhood education.

As an educator, I’ve spent years watching children learn, grow, imagine, create, and build confidence through play. Play isn’t “just playing”. It’s one of the greatest gifts we can give children.

And this entire journey has felt like a gift from God.

The opportunities, the people, the timing, the support, and now the chance to bring this dream to life have all been reminders of His faithfulness.

Gift of Play isn’t just my dream, it’s become a family dream.

My husband, John, will be helping wherever he can between work. Jaxson is already excited to jump in with social media and marketing, and Carter and Nolan can’t wait to welcome families into the playhouse. All three of my boys have always had a special way with children, which makes this journey even more meaningful.

✨ A nod to our family name.
✨ A reflection of my belief in the power of play.
✨ A reminder that childhood is a gift.
✨ A celebration of the many gifts God has poured into our lives.

From our family to yours, thank you for following along as we build something special for Cape Coral. 🌈

🖤 The Gift Family

✨ Meet the Founder ✨

Hi, I’m Corey Gift…though many know me as CoCo. 🖤

I’m a wife, mom of three boys, early childhood educator, and the founder of Gift of Play.

Many years ago, I dreamed of creating a space where children could learn through play and families could find connection and community. At the time, life looked very different than it does today. After leaving a difficult chapter as a single mom, my focus was simply creating a safe and loving home for my boys. The dream was there, but the timing wasn’t.

Over the years, I continued working with children, growing as an educator, and holding onto the vision God placed on my heart.

Today, by the grace of God and with the love and support of my husband John, my family, and this amazing community, that dream is becoming reality. 🙏🏼✨

Gift of Play is more than a business to me. It’s the result of years of faith, perseverance, healing, and hope. It’s proof that dreams don’t expire—they sometimes just wait for the right season. 🥹

Thank you for being here from the beginning. I can’t wait to welcome your family through our doors. 🌈

🖤 Corey (CoCo)

🥳🎉🥰🙏🏼🔑

Not almost.
Not hopefully.
Not someday.

Gift of Play officially has a home!! 🏠🖤

I’ve spent months putting together projections, meeting with lenders, negotiating the lease, tracking down documents, working through permitting questions, figuring out buildout costs, and pushing through every obstacle that popped up. Today is one of those milestones I’ll remember years from now when I’m watching kids play in a space that started as an idea on paper.

Taking a few minutes today to enjoy this HUGE win before diving back into countertops, flooring, permits, and budgets. We’ve earned it.

Now the fun part begins. 🎉🥹💕
🙏🏼

Update on Gift of Play 🥳

After a special delivery and online donation from some of my favorite families - We just crossed $8,175!!!!!

I’m absolutely over the moon with the generosity from this community. What started as a quiet dream in my heart is becoming a real place families can walk into. 🙏🏼

This first phase will allow us to secure the lease and move forward with creating a calm, intentional play space for children and families.

We’re officially over halfway there!!!! 😭😭😭

If you’ve been cheering this on from the sidelines, thank you. Your encouragement and prayers means more than you know. And if you’ve been thinking about joining as one of our founding supporters, now is the moment where every bit truly helps move us forward. 🥳

I’m so grateful for each of you who believes in this vision. 🖤🙏🏼

(Link in comments)

I’ve gone back and forth about sharing this publicly.

For a long time, Gift of Play lived quietly in my heart. It felt safe there… a dream I carried for “someday.”

But someday is HERE!!!

As a mom of three, a daycare provider, and a preschool teacher, I know how deeply environment shapes a child. I’ve seen firsthand how chaos affects kids and how overstimulation steals connection. I’ve also seen how intentional spaces can completely transform a child’s confidence, focus, and joy.

Gift of Play was born from that knowing.

A calm, purposeful space where children can learn through play the way they were designed to and where parents can exhale when they walk through the door.

We are now in negotiations on a location. Writing that feels surreal. 🥹

To move forward, we’re raising $15,000 in this first phase to secure the lease and take the next step. As of right now, $6,900 has already been given or pledged by people who believe in this vision.😭😭😭😭

That alone leaves me overwhelmed with gratitude. This isn’t just a dream anymore.

If this mission speaks to your heart, whether through prayer, sharing, or giving, I would be BEYOND thankful. 🖤

I’ll put the link in the comments.

Thank you for believing in this vision and in me. 🌱