THE 61st Playhouse: GiGi’s Portland is Ready to Serve the Community!
In life, nothing happens overnight. Before a significant achievement, milestone, or modicum of success can be reached, days, months, and even years of hard work and determination must be put in. Our newest Playhouse, GiGi’s Playhouse Portland is a testament to this idea. Opening on September 28, our Portland Playhouse...
Sheena’s story: Advocating on behalf of her son and the entire community
**This story was submitted via our #MyDsStory submissions Written by our guest writer, Sheena Stropki When I saw the post to share my DS story, I immediately started thinking about all the things I see and hope not only for my son, but also all of the individuals I have...
September 2024 Newsletter
FREE PROGRAMS 60 LOCATIONS GLOBAL ACCEPTANCE A Word from the Chief Belief Officer - Nancy Gianni Hello GiGi's Change Makers! Seven years ago, I visited our El Paso Playhouse for an important trip. But unlike most of my trips, GiGi wasn't with me this time; she couldn't be there because...
From Diagnosis to Joy: Celebrating Down Syndrome
Being a parent to a newborn is one of life’s greatest gifts. But it can also be daunting. While parents are overjoyed by the arrival of this amazing new life, they also want to know that their child will have a bright future. This concern is amplified for parents of...
Taking it to the Streets: Phoenix Playhouse Launches ‘GiGi’s on the Go’
At GiGi’s, our Playhouses are like sanctuaries. Inside our walls, we offer our participants and their families more than FREE programming – we offer love, support, and acceptance. Our 60+ Playhouses are safe havens for individuals with Down syndrome and their parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, volunteers, and the entire community....
August 2024 Newsletter
FREE PROGRAMS 60 LOCATIONS GLOBAL ACCEPTANCE A Word from the Chief Belief Officer - Nancy Gianni Hello GiGi's Change Makers! This Sunday, after we returned home from the opening of our 60th GiGi's location in Simi Valley, CA, I was riding a high. Then I received a heartbreaking text from...
Lily’s story: From Mary’s big sister to passionate advocate
**This story was submitted via our #MyDsStory submissions Written by our guest writer, Lily Bauer My little sister Mary Elizabeth is my hero! Since the minute my mom was pregnant with Mary, we have loved her infinitely. We knew she had Down syndrome after my mom’s first US. She has...
The 60th Playhouse: GiGi’s Playhouse – Simi Valley Opens its Doors
It started as a dream. Four years ago, three months into a global pandemic, Kirsten Riddick and Cara Armstrong, two mothers of children with Down syndrome, came together. Their idea was simple: create a social group for their children with Down syndrome, ideally close to their homes in Simi Valley,...
GiGi’s Playhouse Set to Open Landmark 60th Location in Simi Valley
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 12, 2024 (Simi Valley, CA) — It’s a ribbon cutting 21 years in the making. GiGi’s Playhouse, the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, is thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of its newest Playhouse in Simi Valley, CA, on Saturday, August 17. The Simi...
GOING FOR GOLD – World’s Fastest Man’s Message Relevant to Individuals with DS
If you tuned into the Olympics on Sunday, you witnessed something that directly relates to the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse. ...Yes, you read that right. Though we are Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, and we absolutely love the Special Olympics, the plight and obstacles individuals with Down syndrome face aren’t simply...
Tatiana’s story: Celebrating Isaiah
**This story was submitted via our #MyDsStory submissions Written by our guest writer, Tatiana Desiree Mendez My name is Tatiana, and I’m the mother of Isaiah who is 6 years old. We found out about the Trisomy 21 diagnosis when I was 11 weeks pregnant. When Isaiah was born, he...
The Power of a Playhouse
Nervous glances. Long stares. Muffled laughter. When people with disabilities, especially those with Down syndrome, enter public spaces, they’re often greeted with a mixed reception. Whether it’s at a school, restaurant, or grocery store, many members of the neurotypical population aren’t used to seeing individuals with disabilities, and because...