Nancy and GiGi on the Go
We Did It Because She Did It!!!!!
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 Pittsburgh Pirates. (Our Cubbies won, by the way!) The singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the megaphone to amplify our message of acceptance by showing ability, not disability. This magnification received…
Read MoreThe 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 group at our church for…
Read MoreThe 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 33 Grandchildren! One of his…
Read MoreKeeping 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 million dollars to pay for…
Read MoreGiGi’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. Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz…
Read MoreWhy 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 we get in our lives!! …
Read MoreWhy is this a big deal?
GiGi will be singing the National Anthem at the Chicago Cubs game on June 25th! Just take a moment to think about that! She will be giving hope to so many people who have watched their loved ones struggle to say just one word let alone sing the entire National Anthem! So GiGi’s Playhouse will…
Read MoreLike a Boss!
After a whirlwind weekend at the Grand Opening of our 43 GiGi’s location in Charlotte North Carolina, GiGi still managed to unpack and get herself ready for school. As she was leaving for school, she said: “Can I go to the board meeting tonight after my work out?” The girl is a go-getter! She loves…
Read MoreDetermination & Letting Go
Happy New Year! I hope everyone is feeling fresh and excited about the new opportunities that 2019 holds! Let’s go get all we want! 2018 buried me in unfinished family business, Playhouse business, book business, and mom business! I am trying to navigate it all, but I think I am going to refer to the movie…
Read MoreCan’t stop! Won’t Stop! (but I will remember to stop and enjoy the moments)
Have you ever been so busy that when you finally take a breath and you hear birds chirp that you are surprised by that beautiful sound? I have had my head so buried that I was not seeing, or hearing, the beauty all around me! This happens to me sometimes and I need to pull…
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