Quarterly Newsletter – Sept 2022
Website Volunteer Support Hello Friend! I feel so blessed and honored to get this opportunity to address our entire GiGi’s network each quarter to show you what we can do together! Last weekend we opened our 56th location in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Orange County...
GiGi’s Educator Symposium – An AMAZING day of LEARNING
THANK YOU to the 160+ educators, therapists, volunteers, family, and community members who attended the GiGi’s Educator Symposium on September 10, 2022, from across the US, Mexico, and Pakistan! Together we are truly changing the way the WORLD views Down syndrome and sending a global message of acceptance for all. ...
Best of All- Ana del Carmen, Mexico
The Best of All! Ana del Carmen is 18 years old and is currently signed up for mathematics, reading, language, kitchen, and social skills programs. She came to GiGi’s Playhouse when she was 14 years old with the great challenge of requiring more support for her learning. As a teenager,...
Celebrating A Year of Friendship
Born on the Same Day, at the same hospital, Luke and Jace, celebrate their 1st Birthdays! It was a year ago yesterday that both Luke and Jace entered this world, but neither knew of the other until social media brought their families together. Read how these two boys (and their...
GiGi’s Participant Makes History at Buffalo Music Hall of Fame
GiGi's Playhouse Inc. is thrilled to share that one of our participants will be inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame (BMHOF)! Next month, Sujeet Desai from the Buffalo Playhouse will make history as the first individual with an intellectual disability in the BMHOF. This is not his first...
Best Of All- Thomas Jenkins
"I'm happy to share with you that Thomas and I love the experiences of GiGi's Kitchen Adult!" I can truly say that 'patience is a virtue!' This cooking experience has been a test of our levels of patience together! Regardless, we're learning how to work better together and doing the...
GiGi’s At Home Volunteer Spotlight: Alec
Alec and Olivia during a GiGi's At Home tutoring session. Alec was Olivia's tutor for the past year while he attended medical school! We knew going into the summer he was starting med school rotations and would have to stop tutoring a little early, but he...
Best Of All- Jamie Haugen
"Jamie loves cooking virtually with GiGi's Playhouse. He enjoys making recipes, and it teaches him how to follow instructions, make delicious food, and he gets to eat the food he prepares. It is helping him feel more confident, helpful, and independent." -Jennifer Haugen, Jamie's mom If you are interested in...
We Did It Because She Did It!!!!!
GiGi Gianni sings National Anthem at Wrigley Field. To the right is Abby, from School of Rock in Barrington, playing the guitar. GiGi’s Playhouse made a major league splash recently when our namesake, GiGi Gianni, sang the National Anthem at the Chicago Cubs game against the...
Fighting the Good Fight | A Note from Nancy
Success does not happen overnight, we make it happen. Back when GiGi began high school, I was excited, petrified and proud. Her schedule included Biology, Global Studies, TV production, Math concepts and Expanded Literacy, I knew she could do it because we prepared... but that's not how we started. I...
July 2022 Newsletter
Hello to the Amazing GiGi’s Playhouse Community! GiGi, Franco and I recently returned from an impromptu trip to our New York City Playhouse where we met with dignitaries from the country of Qatar. They wanted to learn more about our methodologies, model and our global message of acceptance for all....
GiGiFIT builds confidence & mobility in various stages of life
A step is all it takes to move forward, to feel free. That step, although it seems small, holds tremendous power, allowing individuals to pave their own paths and make their way around the world. Steps, however, do not come naturally for people with Down syndrome. In fact, according to...