Reflecting on the 2025 GiGi’s Annual Leadership Conference

Earlier in November, our team had the privilege of joining Playhouse leaders from across the country for the 2025 GiGi’s Annual Leadership Conference – a powerful gathering filled with inspiration, learning, and connection.

Throughout the conference, we reflected on the incredible growth of our network, now more than 60 Playhouses strong, and explored new ways to strengthen programs, empower families and volunteers, and expand our impact. Every session reminded us of the unshakable power of the GiGi’s Playhouse mission: to make a lifetime commitment to changing lives and providing hope through the consistent delivery of FREE educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community.

Celebrating Excellence at GiGi’s Playhouse Canton

We’re proud to share that GiGi’s Playhouse Canton was recognized as a Center of Excellence in 7 out of 8 Standards of Execution (SOE) categories, with the 8th category honored as Strong!

This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, participants, and families who live out our core values each day.

• Enthusiastic: We approach our work with positivity, energy, and joy, creating an environment where participants and families feel welcomed and valued.
• Best of All: We are always seeking to improve, challenge ourselves, and embrace a Generation G life, striving to make each program and experience better than the last.
• Get It Done: Whether it’s overcoming barriers or launching a new initiative, we take action, collaborate, and make things happen for our community.
• Believe: We believe in ourselves, our mission, each other, and the journey that brought us to this point, celebrating every step forward.
• Locally Concerned, Enterprise Minded: We leverage the collective wisdom of the GiGi’s Network while staying deeply connected to the needs of our local community, sharing best practices, and learning from one another.

One of the greatest strengths of GiGi’s Playhouse is the network itself. Through shared learning, collaboration, and encouragement, we continue to evolve and grow together. The conference underscored that when one Playhouse thrives, we all thrive.

As we carry forward the lessons and inspiration from this year’s conference, we are more motivated than ever to BELIEVE in our participants, ACHIEVE new milestones, EDUCATE through action, CELEBRATE every victory, and INSPIRE acceptance in everything we do.

Thank you to the entire GiGi’s network for the collaboration, wisdom, and shared passion that fuel this movement. Together, we are unstoppable!