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A word from our Founder, Nancy Gianni
Hello GiGi's Change Makers!
I’ve been to a lot of baseball games in my life. But this one was different.
It wasn’t about just cheering on the Texas Rangers; it was about watching a community rally around something bigger: bringing a GiGi’s Playhouse to Dallas!
Thanks to an incredible partnership with Major League Baseball and the Texas Rangers, I recently joined families and gamechangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. The excitement in the stadium wasn’t just for the game; it was for the dream of opening a Playhouse in North Texas.
Texas Rangers player Jake Burger and his wife, Ashlyn, have helped lead these efforts. As the only active Major League player with a child with Down syndrome, Jake and Ashlyn are committed to helping bring a GiGi’s to Dallas!
And just when I thought the weekend couldn’t get any more powerful, I stepped into an elevator and had a moment I’ll never forget.
A woman looked at me and said, “Oh my God… you’re Nancy. GiGi’s Playhouse saved my daughter’s life.”
She shared how, during her daughter’s battle with leukemia — when she was isolated and shut off from the world — our Virtual Playhouse became a lifeline. It was her daughter’s connection to learning, joy, and a supportive community during the darkest days. She told me how our El Paso and Charlotte locations even reached out and offered support from afar.
Now that her daughter is doing better, she’s filled with gratitude and wants to bring that same love and connection to other families in Albuquerque by helping open a Playhouse there!
Stories like hers remind me how far-reaching our impact truly is and how much love exists across our network. That’s what GiGi’s is all about, and it’s all possible because of YOU!
I hope you take a moment to read our August newsletter, learn about the amazing things happening across our network, and celebrate the impact you’re helping make possible!
XOXO,
Nancy and GiGi
Expanding access, no matter the zip code
Too often, families in rural communities face long drives, limited resources, and few local supports for individuals with Down syndrome.
We’re working to change that.
At the 2025 NDSC Annual Convention in Dallas, GiGi’s Playhouse leaders presented on how technology is bridging the gap, spotlighting the vital role of our Virtual Playhouse in bringing free, high-quality programming to families everywhere.
With live, interactive sessions now reaching families in 93 countries and every U.S. state, our Virtual Playhouse is proving that connection and support don’t have to be tied to geography. And we’re just getting started.
We’re actively working to expand our live offerings—from more fitness classes like GiGiFIT, to more educational and social programs, to more real-time support for families navigating life with Down syndrome.
Inclusion shouldn’t depend on location. And at GiGi’s, it won’t.
We’ve been busy this summer
At GiGi’s Playhouse, we talk a lot about changing perceptions around Down syndrome. But that isn’t an empty platitude; it’s something we actively pursue.
Through the ongoing 2025 GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge, over 13,000 individuals (and counting!) across the country participated in GiGi Acceptance Challenge events in their local communities.
Thousands came together in parks, neighborhoods, and entire communities to move for acceptance. What looked like 5Ks or other fitness events were something much bigger: powerful displays of visibility, inclusion, and acceptance.
And that’s what GiGi’s does best. While we offer life-changing FREE programming inside our walls, so much of our mission happens beyond our walls. Through events, school visits, and everyday interactions, we bring our message of acceptance out into the world, one conversation at a time.
Because when communities see the strengths, talents, and contributions of individuals with Down syndrome firsthand, perceptions don’t just shift; they change for good.
GiGiFIT: The foundation for lifelong success
Improving speech. Learning to read. Mastering new skills. When you think about the incredible achievements of our participants, you might not realize it starts with something simple but essential: physical fitness.
Fitness and physical wellness are essential for everyone, but for individuals with Down syndrome, they’re especially critical. Challenges such as low muscle tone, balance difficulties, and reduced core strength can impact everything from speech clarity to posture in the classroom.
That’s where GiGiFIT comes in.
It’s a cornerstone program that builds the strength and confidence needed to thrive both inside and outside the Playhouse. In a world where gym memberships and personal training are increasingly costly, GiGiFIT stands out. The result of an investment exceeding $1 million, GiGiFIT is an evidence-based fitness program, offered completely free.
From infant movement classes to adult wellness, GiGiFIT nurtures core strength that helps participants sit upright in school, improves motor skills that support speech, and boosts overall health to promote cognitive function at every age.
Simply put, GiGiFIT lays the foundation for incredible achievements in GiGi’s Playhouse programs and throughout every area of life.
The school year’s almost here... are you ready?
Join GiGi’s Free Educator Symposium on September 20th!
GiGi’s Playhouse Educator Symposium is back, just in time to equip teachers, aides, therapists, and caregivers with practical, research-based strategies to support individuals with Down syndrome. This free, virtual event offers continuing education credits and tools you can use right away!
But this event isn’t just for educators; parents, grandparents, babysitters, and community members benefit from our Symposium, too. Don’t miss it; register today!
No family should have to wait: GiGi’s Syracuse steps up for Carter
When your child needs support, there’s nothing more frustrating than hearing, “You’re on a waitlist.”
But that’s exactly what Carter’s family heard. At just 3 years old, Carter had received Early Intervention services for speech therapy as an infant, but as a preschooler, he was placed on a waitlist for this vital service.
That’s when GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse stepped up.
Our Syracuse Playhouse was able to enroll Cater in our Amina Grace Speech and Language Program, and with GiGi’s by his side, Carter got to work.
Carter began weekly sessions with a new goal: to imitate three sounds during play with clinician modeling. At his first session, he was hesitant, unable and unwilling to imitate any sounds.
But with support, practice, and patience, Carter made incredible strides. First, he echoed one sound. Then two. By week four, Carter hit his goal: three clear imitations in a single session!
We’re proud of Carter and proud that GiGi’s was there when other services couldn’t be.
An education you can’t receive in a classroom
Textbooks teach. Lectures explain. But at GiGi’s, volunteers experience what it means to truly make an impact.
For college students preparing for careers in therapy, education, or healthcare, volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse offers something no classroom can: connection, leadership, and lessons that last a lifetime.
Georgia, a volunteer and intern at our Milwaukee Playhouse, is proof of this. A Marquette University Exercise Physiology major on track to begin her Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Georgia’s leading GiGiFIT and GiGi’s Kitchen classes this summer.
Through leading with creativity and confidence, Georgia is profoundly impacting our participants while deepening her passion for health and wellness. But more than that, Georgia’s taking part in experiences that she’ll carry into her future career.
At GiGi’s Playhouse, volunteers don’t just give back; they grow. Whether you're a student, a professional, or simply looking to make a difference, GiGi’s offers a place to learn, lead, and become a more accepting version of yourself. Learn about volunteer opportunities here.
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