NEW! Spanish Programs for GiGi’s At Home
Spanish Programs now available for GiGi's At Home! At GiGi’s Playhouse, we see potential, ability, and possibility. So, when COVID-19 hit, strategies were sought and adjustments were quickly made to continue serving our participants virtually. We are happy to share that we recently launched GiGi's At Home on demand programming...
5 Ways to Nurture Learning in Children with Down syndrome
Check out these 5 ways to nurture a love of learning in children with Down syndrome. SPARK CURIOSITY Ask an open-ended question... then WAIT! Sometimes children with Down syndrome just need a little extra processing time. Interruptions or too many questions can be overwhelming. When you give them time to answer...
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...
Reinventing GiGi’s in a virtual world
GiGi’s Playhouse network of 60 locations and startups were hit hard with the cancellation of over 50 GiGi’s events due to COVID-19. So, in typical GiGi’s style, we are going to come back with the biggest and best acceptance event ever! Introducing GiGi’s Virtual Step to Accept Across America hosted...
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...