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A word from our Founder, Nancy Gianni
Hello GiGi's Change Makers!
An error. A mistake. A ‘glitch.’ Those words belong in conversations about technology, not human beings. Yet, last week, a well-known YouTuber used that exact word — a glitch — to describe Down syndrome and to justify why he and his wife decided to terminate their pregnancy at five months after receiving a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
When I read those words, I immediately felt sick. Not because they were directed at me, but because I thought about every individual with Down syndrome who might read them. Every parent who has received a diagnosis. Every family member, sibling, grandparent, and friend who knows the incredible value of a life that others were dismissing with a single word.
I thought about GiGi.
When GiGi was born, I had no idea how much she would teach me, how many lives she would touch, or how much better she would make our family. I thought about everything she’s done in the last year. I thought about her Born to be Heard speaking tour, which kicked off at the United Nations last year, where she shared that individuals with Down syndrome have value and deserve to be heard. I thought about that message being more important than ever now.
And then I saw this… and I worried that we were losing sight of a simple truth: no diagnosis can predict a person’s impact on the world.
For a moment, I felt discouraged. But then, something happened: I watched this community respond. Families began sharing their stories. Self-advocates used their voices. Playhouses across our network filled social media with examples of achievement.
That response reminded me why GiGi's Playhouse exists. We don’t just provide free programming; we help show the world what Down syndrome actually looks like: a beautiful, meaningful life.
But none of this would be possible without you. Thank you to all the families who continue to share their stories and the self-advocates who continue to use their voices. Thank you to all the volunteers, donors, and supporters who make this work possible every day.
Because of your support, we’re able to change perceptions and show the world what we’ve known all along: Down syndrome isn’t a glitch... it’s a life to be understood, supported, and most importantly, celebrated.
XOXO,
Nancy and GiGi
Help GiGi’s Playhouse continue advocating for a world where every individual is valued, included, and celebrated. Your donation supports life-changing programs for more than 35,000 individuals and families nationwide and reinforces a simple truth: every life has value.
A new chapter for GiGi's Playhouse: Introducing the Dallas/Fort Worth Flagship
Every Playhouse changes lives... but what if a Playhouse could also help shape the future of an entire network? That's the idea behind GiGi's Playhouse's new Flagship Location model, an innovative approach designed to expand our impact across the country.
We're excited to share that the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex will be home to the next GiGi's Playhouse Flagship Location.
Built through a unique partnership between GiGi's Playhouse, Inc. and a passionate local startup team, the Dallas/Fort Worth Flagship will serve as both a resource for families across North Texas and a national center for innovation. In addition to providing the free programs families have come to expect from GiGi's Playhouse, the location will help pilot new ideas, support Playhouse growth, and strengthen our ability to serve the Down syndrome community for generations to come.
This vision is already being brought to life by dedicated families, community leaders, and partners across North Texas. Among them is the Burger Family, whose leadership, advocacy, and commitment to the Down syndrome community have helped build momentum for the project from the very beginning. Most recently, supporters gathered for a special Field Day event in partnership with the Texas Rangers and the Burger Family Foundation, celebrating the growing community dedicated to bringing GiGi’s Playhouse to Dallas.
The Dallas/Fort Worth Flagship represents something bigger than a new location; it's a blueprint for how GiGi's Playhouse can reach more families and continue growing our impact for years to come.
Learn more about the GiGi’s Playhouse/Dallas Fort Worth Flagship Location here.
The dash toward $2.5 million continues
The finish line is getting closer. So far, GiGi's 5K — Dash for Down Syndrome events across the country have raised more than $1.6 million toward our $2.5 million goal, fueling free, life-changing programming for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
But the season isn't over yet. With 17 GiGi's 5K events still to come across the country, there are still plenty of opportunities to join the movement, support your local Playhouse, and help us reach the finish line.
Every registration, donation, sponsorship, and fundraising page moves us closer to our goal—and strengthens the programs, resources, and community support offered through GiGi's Playhouse network.
To everyone who has helped us get this far, thank you. And if your local Dash is still ahead, we can't wait to see the impact your community will make.
Introducing GiGiWORKS: Creating meaningful pathways to employment
Coffee shops. Juice bars. Floral shops.
Local businesses are an integral part of every community. They bring people together, strengthen neighborhoods, help local economies thrive, and, of course, create opportunities for people to work. But for far too long, individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities have often been shut out of those meaningful employment opportunities.
GiGiWORKS is working to change that.
Developed by the GiGi's Playhouse National Programs Team, GiGiWORKS is a new workforce development initiative within the GiGi University Professional Track designed to help individuals with Down syndrome build career-readiness and workplace skills through hands-on, real-world experiences at their local Playhouse or within their community.
While some Playhouses have already created innovative workforce opportunities in their communities, GiGiWORKS provides a unified framework to help more locations develop and grow these experiences. At one Playhouse, that might look like a coffee shop. At another, it could be a catering business, florist, juice bar, retail operation, or another enterprise.
No matter the model, the goal remains the same: help participants build confidence, develop valuable workplace skills, and prepare for future employment opportunities.
At its core, GiGiWORKS is not simply about employment. It is about dignity, confidence, purpose, and creating pathways for a more independent future.
The GiGi’s Playhouse x MLB Tour is back in 2026
The GiGi’s Playhouse x MLB Tour is back for another season, continuing to bring MLB teams, families, and communities together in support of the Down syndrome community.
Now in its 2026 run, the tour has already made stops at GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit and GiGi’s Playhouse Denver, where the Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies joined GiGi’s families and local Playhouses for visits focused on awareness, visibility, and acceptance.
The tour is led in partnership with Jake Burger of the Texas Rangers, the only active MLB player with a child who has Down syndrome, alongside his family and the Burger Family Foundation.
As the tour continues throughout the season, more MLB teams are expected to join in helping foster acceptance from Playhouse to Playhouse and ballpark to park. Stay tuned as the GiGi’s Playhouse x MLB Tour continues to grow across the country in 2026.
She came to GiGi’s with a dream
...And we're helping her pursue it.
When Abigail joined GiGi's Playhouse Nashville, she had a goal: she wanted to become a teacher. Since then, she's immersed herself in many Playhouse programs. Abigail attends programs like GiGiFIT, GiGi’s Kitchen, Fantastic Friends, one-on-one tutoring, and more.
But Abigail is not just showing up to programs; she’s actively working toward her dream.
With support from occupational therapy interns at the Nashville Playhouse, Abigail began developing the skills every great teacher needs. Together, they worked on lesson planning, leadership, communication, and tutoring strategies, helping her turn a career goal into a real-world plan.
Then came the opportunity to put those skills into practice.
Abigail recently stepped into a volunteer role as a math tutor, where she's helping a younger participant learn and grow while gaining valuable experience of her own. Her patience and encouragement have already made a lasting impact.
And Abigail's journey is just getting started. This fall, she'll take another exciting step toward her dream after being accepted into Oklahoma State University.
At GiGi's Playhouse, we're not just helping individuals with Down syndrome build skills; we’re helping them pursue goals and achieve their dreams. Way to go, Abigail!
She came to volunteer. She found family.
When Bonnie's husband started volunteering at GiGi's Playhouse Sacramento, she saw firsthand the impact the Playhouse was having on participants and families. Before long, she decided to get involved and become a volunteer herself.
Today, Bonnie volunteers in GiGi’s Kitchen and Art Explosion programs, helping participants build skills, confidence, and friendships. But ask Bonnie why she keeps coming back, and her answer has little to do with the activities.
"GiGi's fills my soul. I can't imagine a better place to spend my time,” she said. “I feel like family.”
And that’s what volunteering at GiGi’s is really about. It’s more than leading a program for an hour a week; it’s about building relationships and creating a place where everyone belongs. Bonnie’s story reflects that. She’s not just helping run programs; she’s helping build the kind of community that changes lives.
Interested in making an impact like Bonnie?
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