GiGi’s National Leadership Conference: Stronger Together
We Are Stronger Together!
The GiGi’s National Leadership Conference was November 7-11 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. Over 300 playhouse staff and volunteers attended this year for inspiration and learning. For instance, sessions focused on technology, daily operations, programs, marketing, fundraising, and leadership development. 
We heard amazing self-advocates such as Brian Kilbane from GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland. Brian is 47 and has been an active fundraiser for the Cleveland Playhouse since the start-up stage. His passion has led others in his family to also volunteer for GiGi’s! He motivated the room of over 300 attendees! Brian has spoken to the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Cavaliers, in addition to schools and businesses.
300 attendees. 80 sessions. 56 locations. 40 speakers. 5 days. 2 countries. 1 voice.
GiGi’s Chicago is so much more than a Down Syndrome Achievement Center on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. The power of our network is exploding! 
Together, we are providing more than 200,000 program hours a year. Over 240 NEW families join our network every month. Similarly, the Chicago Playhouse continues to grow; rolling out new programs, serving more families, and providing more program hours. As a result, we ARE changing the way the world views a Down syndrome diagnosis and sending a global message of acceptance for all.
Join Your Voice With Ours
Join your voice with ours to make this world more accepting, generous and kind for everyone. We have several different ways you can make a difference.
- Take the Generation G Promise today and pass it along to friends, family and co-workers. Promise to be accepting, be generous, and be kind.
- Know a family who has a son or daughter with Down syndrome? Show them our program calendar.
- Volunteer at the playhouse.
- Donate to GiGi’s Chicago. While all of our programs are provided free to our families. They are not free for us to provide.
- Volunteer to serve on a committee or explore joining the board. Email Amy at aarcher@gigisplayhouse.org for more information.
- Host a donation or supply drive for us!
- Buy a 2019 GiGi’s National Calendar! Only $15 and they make a great gift.
- Attend our “i have a Voice” 2019 Chicagoland Gala on February 2nd, 2019.
THANK YOU to Nancy Gianni, the visionary leader behind our organization’s launch and dramatic growth, and her incredible team at the National Office for their incredible work planning and implementing an outstanding conference! We loved the tour of the new GiGi Professional space. For anyone in the Chicagoland area, you should go see the National Achievement Center in Hoffman Estates too! Whether you go for a coffee or some great GiGi’s swag at Hugs & Mugs, to attend a program, or see the new space, it will definitely make you BELIEVE!
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