GiGi’s Playhouse National Conference- What an Impact!

by Maureen Madden, GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough Board Member

Who knew last March when I first attended the GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough i have a Voice Gala that I would be writing today about my amazing experience of my recent trip to Schaumburg, Illinois for the GiGi’s Playhouse National Conference.

It has been an incredible few months.  This past weekend, along with my colleagues from the Hillsborough Playhouse, I was personally able to truly understand why I wanted to be a part of the GiGi’s team.   They are an amazing group of men and women with a common goal to not only help the world understand Down syndrome better, but also want to just help others to be the best that they can be.

GiGi & Nancy Gianni

Upon arriving from the airport in Schaumburg, my colleagues and I jumped right into sessions of Q/A’ s and business meetings.  My first session was a Q/A held by the founder of GiGi’s Playhouse, Nancy Gianni. WOW – what an inspiration! This was my first real introduction to her and she was amazing. Her energy, compassion and need to truly want to know who her board members around the world were really impressed me.   When one asked a question I truly felt that she cared and listened, and when I would hear her reference some things she had picked up in that session later that weekend, it reinforced to me that she DID indeed listen.   What Nancy has created out of her love for her daughter Gigi is astounding, and how she has inspired others is also astounding, if it were not for her 12 years ago, we would not have a GiGi’s Playhouse in Hillsborough, NJ.  Thank you Erin Morris, for initially being inspired and bringing the rest of us along on your journey.  So we can work families like yours and others in and around our community.

As the two days moved along, my head quickly starting filling up with ideas and plans on how I was hoping I could help GiGi’s Hillsborough be bigger, better and stronger.  I am a dreamer at heart and I always think anything is possible so I am sure some of my ideas I shared with my colleagues were overwhelming and maybe even daunting, but I was just so excited after each session I had trouble containing my enthusiasm.  But luckily I am also a realist at times and know that nothing happens overnight.

So now I am back in New Jersey and going over my notes and thinking about what I was able to take away from this great experience that I had in Schaumburg.  Well one, I was able to meet Nancy, see firsthand Hugs and Mugs, which I absolutely want to try with the rest of the Hillsborough team to bring to New Jersey one day, and so much more.

I also learned about Down syndrome, yes I knew about Down syndrome, I mean that is why I volunteer for GiGi’s Playhouse. But did I really know and understand it? Probably not, since I do not personally have a connection to someone with it in my family.  But after listening to one presenter on day two of the conference, I felt more educated, or rather I felt that I could understand a little more of the importance of the achievements of the many developmental skills that one takes for granted.  I may not be able to always fully understand what parents and relatives connected to people with Down syndrome, but I think after this weekend, I can honestly say I have a better understanding of the importance of every big and little achievements in a person with Down syndrome’s life and their families.

Here is continuing to help inspire, educate and believe in GiGi’s Playhouse, Down Syndrome Achievement Center of Hillsborough, and others across this great country and abroad.