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A Word from the Chief Belief Officer - Nancy Gianni
Hello, GiGi’s Change Makers!
IT’S OFFICIAL: we’re opening our 60th Playhouse! It’s been over 21 years since our very first GiGi’s Playhouse location opened its doors and 59 locations later, we’re still growing!
I’m beyond thrilled to announce that this August, GiGi’s Playhouse – Simi Valley will be opening its doors, providing FREE programming, and serving its community! GiGi and I will be at the Grand Opening on August 17, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone from Simi Valley into the GiGi’s family!
When I think back to the opening of that first location, I was just a scared mom on a mission. In fact, I still am. The difference is I now have all of you — an amazing army of believers and change makers who see that individuals with Down syndrome have so much potential and deserve a voice in this world!
Just as GiGi’s has changed my life, please take a minute to read about the incredible impact our Playhouses are having on entire communities, a group of inspiring high school students committed to changing the world, a lemonade stand that GiGi’s Playhouse – Fort Wayne is using to bring visibility to our community, how our Orange County Playhouse serves their ENTIRE community, and a touching volunteer story from GiGi’s Playhouse - San Diego!
We truly could not do this without all of you! We are so grateful for every volunteer, family, and donor who is stepping up and leading the way! We’re all in this TOGETHER! I could not be prouder to be a part of this life-changing community. Thank you for helping this scared mom give her daughter and all her friends a voice.
XOXO
Nancy and GiGi
With 60 locations (and counting), GiGi’s is just getting started!
In today’s world, we do everything online: shop, talk, work – we even date online.
As a result, so many longstanding brick-and-mortar businesses are shutting their doors, but at GiGi’s Playhouse, our physical locations are thriving! With our 60th and 61st Playhouses (Simi Valley and Portland) set to open in the coming months, and two additional openings slated for later this year, we’re showing no signs of slowing down!
Though we’re no strangers to the wonders of technology (we launch our New Virtual Playhouse Beta Version July 22), our physical Playhouse locations are total gamechangers!
Within months of opening, our Playhouses make an immediate impact. Our participants, no matter their age, step inside our Playhouse walls, participate in FREE programs, find community, and experience love and support. But it’s not just our participants, their families, or individuals with Down syndrome who benefit from a GiGi’s Playhouse opening – the entire community benefits.
Click here to read more about the impact our Playhouses have on entire communities!
Did you know our Playhouses have helped our families save $2,321,000 so far this year by providing 21,051 lessons of our 1:1 programs (Literacy, Math & Speech)?!
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lessons of 1:1 programming so far this yearTHE KIDS ARE (MORE THAN) ALRIGHT
High school can be scary. Our #GenerationG Youth Boards are changing that.
This past month, we held our first official virtual National #GenerationG Youth Board Open Forum, where youth boards from seven of our Playhouses attended to share ideas, collaborate, and set goals for the national group.
Our youth boards are made up of high school students who are passionate about making a change in their community, advocating for individuals with Down syndrome, and supporting GiGi’s Playhouse through service. They host events that bring our participants together with the community to promote inclusivity and bring an end to bullying.
Initiated by the ambitious Hillsborough Youth Board from our Playhouse in New Jersey, the virtual call brought all our youth boards together to work towards creating a National Youth Board, build a foundation of sustainability, and expand youth boards to all our Playhouses!
We’re so grateful to these young world-changers, we want to highlight all our Playhouses with youth boards:
Feeling inspired? Email to bring a #GenerationG Youth Board to your Playhouse!
Check out our inspiring A Little Something Extra episode with the Hillsborough Youth Board!
When Life Gives you Lemons...
You could make lemons. Or you could go a step further and make a lemonade stand. That’s exactly what GiGi’s Playhouse – Fort Wayne is doing this summer!
Our Fort Wayne Playhouse has teamed up with their local semi-pro soccer club (Fort Wayne FC), to create and operate a lemonade stand concession during the club’s home matches. Not only are all the items from the lemonade stand donated, but our participants and their families donate their time to work the stand.
At GiGi’s, we have many activities, like this one from Fort Wayne, that focus on getting our participants out into the community. In addition to helping our participants improve their interpersonal skills, these activities also help community members with no ties to our Playhouses gain exposure to our participants and people of ALL abilities!
Plus, who doesn’t love lemonade on a warm summer day?!?
To read more about how this program is impacting both participants and the community at large click here
Want more Friends? Come to GiGi’s.
Let’s face it: making friends is hard. But when you’re an adult, making new friends can seem next to impossible. Luckily, GiGi’s makes the impossible possible.
Courtney (pictured), an adult participant at GiGi’s Playhouse – Orange County, has made tons of meaningful friendships since joining the GiGi’s family. Since joining in early in 2023, Courtney has become a valued member of GiGi’s!
...It’s hard to believe that at one point, Courtney was reluctant to join GiGi’s.
Though Courtney was eager to expand her social circle, she was initially unsure if GiGi’s was the right fit because she doesn’t have Down syndrome. But after being assured GiGi’s is a home to people of ALL abilities, Courtney joined the Orange County Playhouse and hasn’t looked back, thriving socially!
We’re thrilled to have Courtney as part of the GiGi’s family, and we welcome people of ALL abilities to find home, community, and life-long friendships inside our Playhouses!
Volunteering at GiGi’s can provide you with something BIGGER
Sometimes, small decisions make all the difference.
Dakota, a volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse – San Diego, was presented with a decision after receiving a traffic ticket: pay a fine or do community service. Not giving it much thought, Dakota chose to save money and opted to do community service, deciding to volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse.
...Little did she know that choice would greatly enrich her life!
Volunteering in multiple of our programs, Dakota described GiGi’s as one of her favorite places to spend time in San Diego. More than that, Dakota shared that volunteering GiGi’s has allowed to her find a deeper sense of purpose in her life!
Be like Dakota. Decide to join something bigger than yourself. Decide to volunteer at GiGi’s! Learn more here.
“GiGi’s has a made a valuable impact in my life through friendships, experience, and finding purpose higher than myself.”
-Dakota, a volunteer from GiGi's Playhouse - San Diego
Partnership Spotlight
We’re partnering with Gaia Herbs, a leading herbal brand that’s sold in Whole Foods and Sprouts, to offer our readers 75% off their Black Elderberry Kids Syrup (safe for children and adults)! Use promo code BE75 when ordering online (minimum two bottles).
Take advantage of this deal here!
Starting August 1st, Hyrox, a sponsor of our GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge, is launching their 8-8-8 campaign. 8-8-8 is a social media campaign aimed to raise awareness about Down syndrome by having people run (or walk) 8k, donate $8, and tag 8 people on social media. The money raised from 8-8-8 will go to GiGi’s Playhouse!
Keep an eye on our social media channels in the coming weeks to learn more!
Heading to Phoenix for the NDSC Annual Convention?
Come say hi! Nancy, Franco, and GiGi will be at NDSC hosting a pop-up podcast! Plus, stop by the GiGi’s Playhouse booth to secure a ticket to the open house our Phoenix Playhouse is hosting July 26!
A Little Something Extra
New Podcast Episodes Weekly!
Check out the latest releases:
Courtney & Thomas Hawthorne III | Katrina Placzek | Reilly Cate
Check out the latest from our blog
When do you plan to re-open a physical location in Gainesville. FL? I was a volunteer in the Ft. Myers location and miss being a reading tutor.