About GiGi's Atlanta
In 2003, GiGi’s Playhouse was founded by Nancy Gianni based upon her promise to change the way the world views Down syndrome. Her mission and drive created a community of now 57 (and growing ) Playhouses serving families across the country and around the globe. This is still our mission today.
Paul and Adrienne Mulligan felt the same drive when their daughter, Sara Kate, was born in 2008. Very soon after, Adrienne launched the SKate Foundation, with her mission, “to break down old stereotypes and raise expectations for people living with this condition through early intervention.” Within a year, Adrienne had met Nancy and made a pledge the The Skate Foundation would focus all efforts to bring GiGi’s Playhouse to Atlanta. In 2011, the SKate Foundation, working alongside the founding GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta Board of Directors, raised the funds to open GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta, the 9th national Playhouse and 1st in the Southeast.
The Atlanta Midtown location opened its doors and began serving families in metro Atlanta with valued GiGi’s FREE programming and therapies, as well as establishing a sense of belonging for the Down syndrome community. To further support the greater Atlanta community, they opened a 2nd location in Roswell, GA. While the Midtown location had to close its doors, Roswell remains and now serves more families than ever!
GiGi’s Playhouses are 100% donor funded and 99% volunteer run. This is all to ensure that no family is ever denied services due to costs. These FREE services include educational support, multiple therapy opportunities, teen focused groups, job training, summer camps, nights out, and adult transition programs to name a few! We all look forward to watching GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta continue to grow, to thrive, and to promote belief in our community. The dream is to someday see a GiGi’s Playhouse in every zip code and beyond, and to watch as the world becomes a better place.
Locations
59
New Playhouse Inquiries
200
Program Participation Hours
220,000
Our Mission and Purpose:
To change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.
Our Vision:
To see a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted and embraced in their families, schools, and communities.
Our Niche:
We change lives through the consistent delivery of free educational, therapeutic-based, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community, through a replicable playhouse model.
Our Promise:
A lifetime commitment to families.
With over 58+ brick-and-mortar locations across the United States and Mexico and 200 inquiries to start new locations all over the world, GiGi’s Playhouse is the ONLY network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers. Every day, we provide FREE, life-changing therapeutic, educational, and career training programs for 30,000+ individuals of all ages.
Down syndrome is the largest chromosomal disability in our country and yet, it is the least funded. From a prenatal diagnosis to career skills, we make a lifetime commitment to remain by their side. Families are empowered with all the tools their child needs to succeed!
Through free programs and through our Generation G Campaign for global acceptance, we EMPOWER families by maximizing opportunities for daily achievement and lasting acceptance. To ensure lasting acceptance, we must show the world what individuals with Down syndrome are truly capable of achieving as students, co-workers, volunteers, friends, and valued members of their communities. Our program outcomes help advance this vital social impact goal.
GiGi's Playhouse is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is solely funded by donations.
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Privacy Policy:
No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.