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A year Full of growth and gratitude

Dear Friends,

GiGi's PlayhouseThis has been a year full of gratitude and growth! Not just growth in our Playhouses and families served but personal growth in me, GiGi, our families and our volunteers! I hope you are feeling it too!

Gratitude and growth were the theme at the 2018 GiGi’s Playhouse Leadership Conference! It was over the top! 5 days, 56 GiGi’s Playhouse locations and start-ups, 300 leaders, 80 sessions, 40 speakers, 2 countries and one unstoppable voice for Down syndrome!  The energy was through the roof!  The growth we see at GiGi’s not only goes far beyond the amount of Playhouses and families we serve, but to the personal growth in each and every one of our leaders!  From Judges and CEO’s, to mothers, doctors and even a Nun, the GiGi’s leaders are pushing themselves beyond what they ever thought possible and truly changing the way the world sees Down syndrome and sending a global message of acceptance for all!

It has been a crazy year! GiGi and I have been on the road, in the air and in the board room! From the Today Show, to the red carpet, to the board room at Coca Cola, to a sit down in LA with Tom Segura, to getting in trouble with the TSA’s, to rappelling down a 14 story building there is nothing we would not do for Down syndrome! We started the year in Annapolis for the opening of their Playhouse. Next was the San Diego opening and then to the other coast for the opening of GiGi’s Tampa! We will end the year in Houston for the opening of our 40th Playhouse! Our mission is striking a chord with so many people and our demand is growing so quickly (240 families a month!) that we have 12 more Playhouses scheduled to open in 2019!

As hard as we are working, the personal attacks on people with Down syndrome CONTINUE to happen. Every time I look at GiGi, and all her friends who wear their diagnosis on their face, I wonder how people could mock them and choose to hurt them. Instead of drowning in the negativity of it all, we choose to rise above and bring the world with us! We launched a campaign called #GenerationG - One Million Voices to show the world that our kids are worth fighting for! Please do your part and sign on at gigisplayhouse.org/generationg

All of this success would be impossible if it weren’t for our volunteers who work tirelessly in support of our mission. Our “key at the bakery” mentality still drives our culture—our door is always open and we are present for our families. This is evident with all the pregnant moms and new families we have opening that door. I am so grateful for our volunteers who open that door with a smile and continue serving the world one child, one diagnosis, one community at a time.

GiGi and I always say that there is a higher power guiding us, and this year is once again proof. As 2018 comes to a close, let’s all give thanks for the growth and success we saw this year. Our free programs are changing lives and we truly cannot do this without you—our families and friends. And so, as I sit here, moved by emotion for all you have done, I humbly ask you to make a gift to GiGi’s Playhouse so that we can continue this positive momentum in the New Year.

God bless each and every one of you, and thank you!

Nancy and GiGi

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At Tom Segura meeting in LA with Gianni Family, Tim Shriver Jr and Rachel from Born this way. #strongertogether

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The first time we went to GiGi’s was when Dominic was just 12 weeks old. From the moment I walked into GiGi’s with Dominic, I felt like we were at home. They immediately welcomed us and started to make a big fuss over Dominic. I was then given a tour of the Playhouse and learned more about what they offer. I was completely blown away. I was fascinated by the variety of different programs they have for all ages.  As excited as I was for the programs they have for younger kids, what made me the most excited was all they have for adults. My biggest worry when we got Dominic’s diagnosis was thinking about him as an adult and what his life would be like. Hearing about the programs they have for adults, like GiGi U and GiGiFIT, helped to ease that worry. In a very short time, GiGi’s helped me see that Dominic’s diagnosis was not something to be sad about, but something that we could be positive about. I know now that Dominic will always have a place to hang out with his friends and learn. He will always be a part of the welcoming, close-knit community that GiGi’s so lovingly offers.” Eliza, Dominic’s proud mom. 

From prenatal diagnosis to careers skills we make a lifetime commitment to our families with our free purposeful and progressive programs. At GiGi’s they have a place to learn and grow. #place

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We are changing lives with over 200,000 FREE therapeutic based and educational program hours every year! 20,000 hours alone are done in the National Playhouse in Hoffman Estates. 

  • GiGiFIT Teen and Adult offered at 8 locations with over 3,000 participation hours! We also expanded our GiGiFit gym this year to accommodate the growing need. 
  • GiGi University/GiGi Prep in 11 locations with over 23,500 participation hours. We recently added GiGi Professional, which is a new career training track for our adults! 
  • Over 8,500 FREE hours of speech therapy in the Amina Grace program at 11 locations! 
  • Our LMNOP has over 6,000 participants network wide.
  • Literacy & Math tutoring over 25,000 hours.

These programs are growing every day! Our 2019 initiatives are to work on an app and practical applications that the participants and their families can do at home to continue the learning! #impact

With GiGi’s Playhouse FREE one on one literacy, Ava continues to strengthen her reading skills. High expectations and teaching the way Ava learns best is setting her up for a lifetime of success.

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Our adults in GiGi Prep, GiGi University and Hugs and Mugs Career Training Program are shining because of you! Our adults have so much to give in this world but have limited opportunities. GiGi University builds them up and gives them the real world skills needed to help change perceptions and open up new opportunities for them! #purpose

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Mitchell develops and strengthens his customer service skills while interning in the Hugs & Mugs Cafe. 

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GiGi’s serves the community, but more importantly, it gives the community a place to serve! When Debbie started volunteering with us, I do not think she thought it would change her life but that is exactly what it did! She has found a new family, and even some surrogate grandchildren, and we have found a friend for life! Being a 99% volunteer run organization presents its challenges and we are constantly blown away by the incredible volunteers who give their time to tutor our kids, help run our programs and help run our Playhouses! From Boy Scout troops to Grandparents to Corporate America our volunteers are helping us change the way the world sees Down syndrome. One child, one diagnosis, one community at a time. #serve 

Everything we do is purposeful and progressive and getting our individuals ready for their next phase in life. GiGiFIT was created and designed in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Mann for individuals with Down syndrome focusing on the universal challenges of hypotonia to include:  balance, strength, endurance, joint stability, posture, coordination, sequencing, independent practice control and more! Look for GiGiFit baby and GiGiFit mom coming in 2019! Imagine starting this therapeutic program as a baby! Talk about life changing! 

 “Since Zach began the GiGiFIT program I have seen his interest in fitness blossom. He’s genuinely excited about working out. When I tell him, it is a ‘GiGiFIT day’ he gives me an enthusiastic “yes” and a high five! He loves the interaction with his peers and coaches and celebrates his accomplishments. I have also seen growth in his independence from me. He is comfortable going in, getting his workout area ready and goes through the program without looking for assistance from me. He is looking forward to participating in this program again.”  Zachs mom. #purposefulprograms

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Ground breaking news! Microsoft is partnering with GiGi’s Playhouse to see how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can help kids with Down syndrome! Our specific focus is Hypotonia but we are not stopping there! To learn more about this important partnership go to our website and read our Microsoft blog post. Stay tuned for more info on this life changing partnership. 

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A huge thank you to Dr. Jay and our amazing speech pathology students from the Masters program at Elmhurst College who run our LMNOP (Language Music N Our Peeps) every Tuesday morning and every Third Saturday morning at the Hoffman Playhouse for ages 0-3! This class not only helps in speech and communication, but also prepares them for pre-school! #blessed

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Volunteers make GiGi’s all it can be and GiGi herself is a great volunteer!  

She travels the country and works hard every day spreading the GiGi’s mission! But we need your help!  If you are interested in changing a life please donate, volunteer, or email us to learn more ways to help!  Do a Jeans for Genes day at work and spread the Generation G message of acceptance for all! Post your Gen G hand on social media or simply take the Generation G pledge to make a conscious decision to be better every day! Be Generous. Be Accepting. Be Kind. Together we can change the world one child, one diagnosis, one community at a time!

 

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