After years of practice, therapy, rejections, and cancellations, GiGi finally sang the national anthem at the Chicago White Sox game this week! She wowed the enthusiastic crowd, showing just how much people with Down syndrome can achieve. Even though we had some behind-the-scenes issues (Her earpiece fell out leaving her to sing the song with no music and navigate the echo/delay she was hearing in the stadium), GiGi was a true professional and triumphed. I saw a moment of panic in her face, but she did not waver. As a mom, I have never been prouder!
GiGi’s Playhouse prepares our kids for these and all the other curveballs life throws at us, enabling them to achieve their dreams. Through our free in-person programs and our global platform reaching 71 countries, GiGi’s is there for families every step of the way: from prenatal diagnosis through career skills. We make a lifetime commitment to those we serve. And as a result, we see families accomplishing amazing things, just like GiGi did on Wednesday night.
So to all of our amazing volunteers, donors, playhouse teams, boards and corporate supporters, I THANK YOU for helping GiGi and all of her friends reach their goals and achieve their dreams!
GiGi’s Playhouse continues to grow and adapt to the needs of the Down syndrome community worldwide.
Read the touching story of one family from Turkey on our blog today.
The demand for GiGi’s Playhouses and programming is not slowing down. We are opening our 55th playhouse in Denver on October 16, plus we are now serving families in over 71 countries with our free educational and therapeutic programming. Check out our free live and on demand programs and resources GiGi’s at Home!
We are excited to announce that we are making plans to launch our Virtual Playhouse with an Interactive Community! This Playhouse will use the My GiGi’s virtual environment to connect families, educators, researchers and volunteers from around the world. Serving thousands of families, this will be the largest “playhouse” in the GiGi’s network! Please contact Nancy Gianni if you would like to be involved in this groundbreaking project!
Did you know for every one GiGi’s employee we have over 100 volunteers?
To help us train and manage all these amazing volunteers we have created and built the GiGi’s LMS (Learning Management System) that we call the GiGi’s Training Site. This is a game changer for a 99% volunteer run organization! Thank you Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation for giving us the seed money to start this project! You truly are helping us change the world!
October is Down Syndrome Acceptance month, and it’s just two weeks away. This is such an important time to spread our message of acceptance!
Our goal is to shift the current, passive mindset of awareness to action-oriented I SEE YOU acceptance, in corporate America, schools and our communities!
Visit iaccepyou.org to take the pledge and get start today!
Have you caught up on all 10 episodes of
A Little Something Extra Podcast?
For Down Syndrome Acceptance Month we will be releasing 1 podcast a week on research, families, CEO’s and more.Watch or listen to them all on your favorite streaming device.
In the past 30 years the life expectancy of individuals with Down syndrome have more than doubled. GiGi’s Playhouse is committed to helping our families, educators and communities meet the needs of our growing population.
Thank you, Bain & Company! We are in the third quarter of our yearlong partnership with their “Adopt an Org” initiative. Thank you to all who have supported this work through strategy, support, and analysis. This effort with Bain will help us even better serve our 30,000 GiGi’s families!
As you know, our programs are free to our families, but not to us. Let’s make the Bain project just one initiative that’s driving our network forward! We are in need of both funding and shared resources in marketing, leadership, and volunteering.
Let’s connect and make a difference in this world together!
GiGi’s was in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival!
December 9, 2022
Have you heard how AWESOME we were in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival?! It was a cold day from start to finish, but GiGi’s brought warmth to the hearts of millions of people. A few weeks before the big event, we ordered 5,000 hot chocolate packets to hand out to...
Looking for a gift for a child with Down syndrome?
December 2, 2022
Searching for gift ideas for those with Down syndrome? It can be tricky knowing what will be fun while still providing an element of learning. We’ve curated a list of items that help improve various skills while keeping children engaged. Please look at our recommendations and how they benefit individuals...
Volunteer of the Year- Anna Bruce
November 16, 2022
Like many families involved with GiGi’s Playhouse, Anna Bruce found GiGi’s when her son, Camden, was born with Down syndrome. She was part of a group of people in the Southern Tier, New York, who led a pop-up Playhouse idea… but after a phone call in 2017, they ultimately realized...
