CHICAGO, November 18, 2025 – GiGi Gianni, the 23-year-old namesake and Chief Inspiration Officer of GiGi’s Playhouse — the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers — will launch her national speaking tour, Born to be Heard, on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Michigan Shores Country Club in Wilmette, Illinois.
After speaking at the United Nations about the value of every life — and why babies like her deserve the chance to be born — GiGi was inspired to take her message to communities across the country. Created to amplify the voices of individuals with Down syndrome, the Born to be Heard tour invites supporters to rally behind GiGi, the disability community, and GiGi’s Playhouse. Limited tickets for the free launch event are still available.
“I know not everyone sees my life as valuable,” said GiGi Gianni. “But I’m here to tell the truth: my life has value and so do the lives of all people with disabilities.”
For more than two decades, GiGi has been redefining what’s possible for individuals with Down syndrome. As the inspiration behind GiGi’s Playhouse, she has turned a personal story into a worldwide movement of acceptance and hope. What began as a single Playhouse founded in her honor has grown into a network of 62 Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, with virtual programs now reaching families in more than 95 countries.
According to Nancy Gianni, GiGi’s mother and the Founder of GiGi’s Playhouse, the Born to be Heard tour is a natural extension of the organization’s mission. “GiGi has spent her whole life showing the world that every life has value,” said Nancy. “This tour takes that message beyond our Playhouses and into the hearts of people everywhere.”
The Born to be Heard tour supports the GiGi’s Voice capital campaign, a movement to help individuals with Down syndrome build communication skills, confidence, and connection. Donations and partnerships generated through the tour will directly fund GiGi’s Playhouse’s free programs — including the Amina Grace Speech and Language Program, LMNOP early communication program, and one-on-one Literacy Tutoring.
Event Details
What: Born to Be Heard – Launch of GiGi Gianni’s National Speaking Tour Hosted by Christopher and Sharon Murphy
When: Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 2–4 PM
Where: Michigan Shores Country Club, Wilmette, IL
Admission: Free, Tickets Limited (RSVP required), Cocktail Attire Suggested. RSVP for the event here.
About GiGi’s Playhouse
GiGi’s Playhouse is the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers dedicated to providing free educational and therapeutic programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. GiGi’s Playhouse has opened 62 locations across the United States and Mexico, and GiGi’s Virtual programming serves families in more than 95 countries. GiGi’s Playhouse offers a lifetime commitment—from prenatal diagnosis through career skills—to empower families with all the tools their child needs to succeed. For more information, visit here.