Down Syndrome in a COVID-19 World
Don’t high-five, don’t shake hands, don’t touch anything. Don’t travel, don’t leave the house unless you have to, and definitely don’t hug. We have all been bombarded with a list of do’s and don’ts during the COVID-19 pandemic. So it’s fairly common knowledge what we should and shouldn’t be doing...
The Power of Purpose
The Power of Purpose!! I spoke this past weekend at a Knights of Columbus retreat in front of hundreds of people who make it their mission to serve others. My mom was my hero and she taught me about serving others not only with her words but with her actions. She ran the SPRED...
Acceptance starts with a smile
Today we are welcoming GiGi's Playhouse Syracuse mom, Beth, to our blog today to share some simple yet powerful encouragement. Dear My fellow Moms and Dads, I believe that we all want the same thing when it comes to our precious children. Whether we breastfeed or bottle-feed, home school, put...
Justice for Jack! We need YOUR Help! #JusticeForJack
Jack, a freshman at Roncalli High School in Indiana and student manager for the football team, has Down syndrome and was assaulted because of it. Jack was abused, mocked, tormented, molested, and videotaped by his peers. This happened to him on multiple occasions when even a single instance is one...
The Ripple Effect
Recently GiGi & I were in New Orleans doing a corporate event for the GiGi’s Playhouse New Orleans start-up team. While we were there we also were doing a book signing, we took an Uber to the signing and our uber driver was 81 years old, had 7 siblings and...
2019 Leadership Conference | Hoffman Estates, Illinois
2019 National Leadership Conference November 6-10, 2019 Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, 1800 East Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173 In just a few weeks close to 400 leaders from across the US and Mexico will come together in Hoffman Estates for the annual Bigger, Better, Stronger Together Leadership Conference. Board members; professional...
GiGi’s Math Program Leads to Independence
Math 2.0 The GiGi’s Playhouse One-on-One Math tutoring program has been around for over 8 years! We now have 24 locations offering math tutoring with an average of 275 enrollments per session. That is approximately 1,000 students each year! We recently had an amazing opportunity to review and renew this...
Keeping a promise, even when it is scary.
When this picture popped up in my memories on Facebook, earlier this week, I got that same pit in my stomach that I had 6 years ago. Will this work, can we pay for it, did I go too far? Where am I going to get a...
GiGi & Zack talk The Peanut Butter Falcon & Generation G!
Check out the conversations GiGi & Zack shared over inspiring others, favorite part of The Peanut Butter Falcon, #GenerationG and naughty words 😉 Today The Peanut Butter Falcon releases nationwide, be sure to check out where you can see this groundbreaking film! If you missed Nancy's interview with the...
GiGi’s Playhouse & The Peanut Butter Falcon. It starts with a promise.
The making of The Peanut Butter Falcon is not much different than the story of GiGi’s Playhouse! Doing the impossible and changing the way the world views Down syndrome! Like GiGi’s, this project started with a promise. I promised GiGi I would change the way the world saw Down syndrome....
Meet Golf’s Newest Celebrity at our August Golf Outing
This summer’s golf outing benefitting GiGi’s Playhouse will NOT be your average golf outing. Why? Because the star of the show that day is none other than Amy Bockerstette, the young woman with Down syndrome whose golf skills have made her a viral video sensation. Amy is the 20-year-old GiGi’s Playhouse program participant who stunned spectators with...
Why Do Media Portrayals of Kids with Down Syndrome Matter So Much to Us?
I was so torn over the controversy about the Today Show segments with Shawn Johnson and Andrew East. First of all, congratulations to Shawn and Andrew! Every new parent should be congratulated, and every child should be celebrated. The anticipation of a new baby is one of the best possible gifts...
