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Have you heard the news?!? GiGi’s Playhouse was awarded a $2 million grant by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving! With over 6,300 nonprofits applying, GiGi’s was one of only 361 organizations selected. Initially, we applied for a $1 million grant, but MacKenzie Scott recognized the significance of our mission and doubled the dollar amount! 

Not only is this grant a great honor, it’s also incredibly impactful. This generous grant will empower us as we continue expanding our FREE programs to meet the needs of the Down syndrome community. Thank you for believing in our mission and being an integral part of GiGi’s Playhouse! 

National Reading Month may have ended on March 31, but at GiGi’s Playhouse, our participants are always reading! Working with students starting at age three, GiGi’s Literacy Tutoring program incorporates reading into every aspect of life. Our tutors use materials that are meaningful and relevant to individuals with Down syndrome. Whether we are addressing single sound consonants like “M” and “D” by teaching “Mommy” and “Daddy” with sight words, reading menus and street signs, or helping an advanced reader to write a book or research project, all GiGi’s students build confidence and grow skills! 

GiGi’s 1-1 Literacy Tutoring equally impacts the lives of students and tutors! “The opportunity to be a literacy tutor at GiGi’s Orange County has been nothing short of a miracle.” 

Don’t think you can tutor a student in Math or Literacy?
Read some myths & facts about tutoring at GiGi’s Playhouse here

Our GiGi’s Training Site allows you to train and become a certified tutor on your schedule.

Let’s face it, many of us struggle to stay on track with our fitness and nutrition goals, and it’s no different for individuals with Down syndrome. Thankfully, attending weekly GiGiFIT classes empowers our participants to improve their overall health and wellness! But beyond GiGiFIT classes, we aim to incorporate healthy living into all aspects of our participants’ daily lives. That’s why we’ve created the GiGiFIT Movement Tracker. 

With the Movement Tracker, we’ve created a solution to pair accountability with routine to maximize participant results! Print out the journal, put it on the fridge, and build wellness into your daily routines! 

Read how one family uses the tracker to build independence and confidence. 

GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge team spotlight: Matteo’s Mighty Marchers

“Before I had Matteo, I had no idea what Down syndrome was. I remember asking the doctor through tears, will he be able to walk and talk? But through GiGi’s Playhouse and some Facebook groups I learned not only can people with Down syndrome walk and talk, they can do anything they set their minds to!”  

  -Lena Lewis, member of Matteo’s Mighty Marchers 

With the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge already underway, it’s a great time to highlight one of our participating teams! Matteo’s Mighty Marchers’ story encapsulates everything the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge stands for!

Want to be like Matteo’s Mighty Marchers? There’s still time to register a team! GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge events are taking place all across the country.

Join us in congratulating Cardinal O’Hara High School, our latest National #GenerationG Heroes Award recipient! For the first time, a high school has been recognized with this prestigious honor. Nancy and GiGi Gianni presented the New York High School with the award. 

#GenerationG is a conscious decision to be better every day; be accepting, be generous, be kind. Cardinal O’Hara High School has shown a deep commitment to acceptance by creating the St. Margaret’s Scholar Program. A first of its kind in a NYS Catholic High School, the St. Margaret’s Scholar Program is an inclusive special education program. Servicing students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the program pairs scholars with a peer mentor who supports the scholars both academically and socially. 

The program has instilled a sense of inclusivity for scholars and mentors, which is exactly what #GenerationG represents! Learn how you can be a part of #GenerationG here! 

HYROX is partnering with GiGi’s Playhouse to introduce the HYROX program to the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge and expand race and partner gym representation.

Watch the video here.

Connor Tomlinson’s new episode of A Little Something Extra Podcast is out NOW!! Connor, his mom, Lise, and brother Ben join the podcast for an amazing episode!! In this episode we talk about his experience on the show and how it has transformed his life overnight. He tells us about his perspective on autism and how it is “the next step in human evolution.” We talk about the importance of inclusion and acceptance, plus Connor settles the score on the Game of Thrones vs Lord of the Rings debate. It’s a perfect episode for celebrating Autism Awareness Month and the amazing people blessed by it!

The October release of #GenerationG Magazine is in the works!

Do you have an inspiring #GenerationG story? If so, please share it with us; it could be featured in our upcoming issue.

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