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A word from the Chief Belief Officer, Nancy Gianni
Hello GiGi's Change Makers!
The room was buzzing with energy. I was excited but also nervous. Then, I looked over at GiGi, sitting next to me — confident, poised, and ready.
In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, GiGi and I spoke at the United Nations. GiGi didn’t just speak for herself; she spoke for all individuals with Down syndrome worldwide!
I sat there in awe as she delivered her powerful message, stressing that individuals with Down syndrome belong in this world! This message so often goes unheard, and I was beyond proud of GiGi for delivering it on a stage as prominent as the United Nations!
But there wasn’t much time to celebrate. A little more than a week later, GiGi and I hit the road to head to GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati to kick off GiGi’s MLB tour, which is bringing Major Leagues Baseball teams to different GiGi’s Playhouse locations across the country! This partnership is launched with the help of Texas Rangers player Jake Burger and his wife Ashlyn, who recently welcomed Penelope, their beautiful daughter with Down syndrome, into this world!
The United Nations appearance and GiGi’s MLB tour are just the latest chapters in a story we’re all writing together. Our platform is growing, and the world is beginning to realize what we’ve known all along: individuals with Down syndrome are worthy of celebration!
Please take a moment to read our April newsletter and learn about more exciting things happening at GiGi’s! I’m so grateful for all of you helping amplify our message!
XOXO
Nancy and GiGi
P.S. If you haven’t seen GiGi’s United Nations speech, please watch it below!
GiGi's Playhouse teams up with MLB's Jake Burger to spread ACCEPTANCE
GiGi’s Playhouse is joining the big leagues! We’re launching a nationwide tour that will bring 13 different MLB teams to 13 different GiGi’s Playhouses! This tour was launched in partnership with Texas Rangers player Jake Burger, his wife Ashlyn, and the Burger Family Foundation.
The tour kicked off on March 31, when Jake Burger, Rangers teammate Corey Seager, and Reds players Graham Ashcraft and Nick Lodolo visited GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati!
While this tour is an incredible opportunity for our participants and families to meet MLB players, it’s so much more than that. This partnership will give the entire Down syndrome community more visibility, allowing GiGi’s Playhouse to facilitate understanding and foster acceptance from ballpark to ballpark!
We’re so grateful to Jake and Ashlyn Burger, the Texas Rangers, and the MLB players partnering with us! Read more about this nationwide tour with MLB players here!
The MLB GiGi’s Playhouse Tour is coming to a Playhouse near you!
The tour is coming to the following Playhouses: Detroit, New York City, Chicago, Tampa, Twin Cities, San Diego, Orange County, Phoenix, Sacramento, Houston, Cleveland
*Subject to change
GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge – Join the movement!
The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge is underway and already making a huge impact!
Happening at all our Playhouses across the country, the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge (GFAC) is a 5k fun run, 1-mile walk, or other fitness format — that brings people together to raise awareness and support the challenges in the Down syndrome community. This year, we aim to raise $2.75 million to fund the 340,000 hours of free programming we provide annually. But this event isn’t just about fundraising; it’s about uniting communities, fostering inclusion, and celebrating individuals with Down syndrome!
The impact of this event can be seen in Jonah’s Journey, a participating GFAC team from our Atlanta Playhouse. Jonah, who has been part of GiGi’s since he was six months old, is now two and a half. Despite a one-hour drive each way, Jonah’s family attends music therapy at GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta every Tuesday — directly benefiting from the programs made possible by fundraisers like the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge!
Can we count on you? Become a GFAC Champion and support participants like Jonah!
- Find an event near you: register as a team, individual, or volunteer
- Donate (as an individual or become a corporate sponsor)
- And, of course, please help us spread the word!
Refund season: Donate and make a difference!
This tax season, you can make an incredible impact! As you finalize your taxes, remember that any refund you receive can help support GiGi’s Playhouse. Every contribution — big or small — helps fund our FREE educational, therapeutic, and career programs!
National Volunteer Week: Celebrating our incredible volunteers
National Volunteer Week is ten days away! Though National Volunteer Week officially takes place from April 20-26, at GiGi’s Playhouse, we’d like to take this moment to thank each and every one of our volunteers; their dedication is truly changing lives.
As a 99% volunteer-run organization, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s tutoring, leading group programs, or supporting us at events, our volunteers are helping us change the world!
To our amazing volunteers — thank YOU for helping make GiGi’s Playhouse a place of acceptance, growth, and community!
Want to become one of our amazing volunteers? You can make an incredible difference for as little as one hour a week! Learn more here!
Changing perceptions: Raleigh participant inspires UNC students
At GiGi’s Playhouse, we are committed to giving the Down syndrome community a voice—not just by advocating on their behalf but by creating spaces where individuals can speak for themselves.
Our Raleigh Playhouse recently exemplified this mission by partnering with the University of North Carolina’s Occupational Therapy Program. As part of this collaboration, Gianna, an adult participant at GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh, spoke to master’s students about her perspective on living with Down syndrome. Gianna captivated the students with her heartfelt insights, sharing that Down syndrome doesn’t feel like a disability to her—she can do many of the same things as her peers.
Dr. Kathryn Sorenson, the class's professor, said, “Gianna did a fantastic job of sharing what it’s like to have Down syndrome. There were so many things that she shared that helped students understand Down syndrome from a more personal, lived experience.”
We’re grateful to the University of North Carolina for giving Gianna a platform to speak and break down stereotypes firsthand. We’re also incredibly proud of Gianna for stepping up and sharing her voice, helping change perceptions about individuals with Down syndrome!
32,000 hours of impact: The power of GiGi’s 1:1 Tutoring Programs
Personal finances. Traffic signs. Job applications. These everyday tasks rely on key skills like reading and math, which are central to leading an independent and fulfilling life.
At GiGi’s Playhouse, our FREE 1:1 tutoring programs in literacy and math help individuals with Down syndrome of all ages build these essential skills. With personalized support from dedicated tutors, participants gain the confidence they need to succeed in school, at work, or in any phase of life!
Thanks to our 1:1 tutoring programs, participants like Savannah, who once struggled with reading, and Joe, an adult who rediscovered his passion for reading, have gained the confidence to succeed—Savannah now reads with ease, and Joe was accepted into college.
These successes showcase the life-changing effect of our FREE tutoring programs!
DID YOU In 2024, GiGi’s Playhouse provided more than 32,000 hours of FREE 1:1 tutoring in literacy and math!
Sunbelt Rentals partners with GiGi’s Playhouse nationally!
We’re thrilled to announce that Sunbelt Rentals is a national sponsor of GiGi’s Playhouse and our GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge!
Sunbelt Rentals initially partnered with GiGi’s Playhouse Long Island and made an incredible impact on a local level, but Sunbelt realized they could help GiGi’s make an even more significant impact. As a national sponsor, they will send their employees from across the country to different GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge events, helping us spread acceptance!
Interested in learning how your business or employer can help GiGi’s create a more inclusive and accepting world? Learn more here!
GiGi’s Journey is out NOW!
GiGi’s Journey, our new book with Harry Moon Books, is available to order now! This magical story aimed at young readers ages 7 to 12 features magic, adventure, and a charismatic main character... who just happens to have Down syndrome. ‘GiGi’s Journey’ will introduce GiGi (modeled after the real-life GiGi Gianni), a character with Down syndrome, as a main character into the beloved world of Harry Moon and also bring a brick-and-mortar GiGi’s Playhouse into the fictional town of Sleepy Hollow.
You can order this groundbreaking book here!
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