CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NEWS
FREE PROGRAMS
62 LOCATIONS
GLOBAL ACCEPTANCE
A word from our Founder, Nancy Gianni
Hello GiGi's Change Makers!
Twenty-two years ago, I never imagined I'd be writing these words: we're opening our 63rd GiGi's Playhouse!
On August 8, we'll officially welcome GiGi's Playhouse Knoxville into our family, bringing free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs to individuals with Down syndrome and their families across East Tennessee.
Sometimes, I have to stop and let that number sink in. Sixty-three.
When we opened the very first Playhouse, I wasn't thinking about how many locations we would have one day. I was thinking about GiGi, and how every individual with Down syndrome deserves a place where they are accepted, believed in, and celebrated.
Today, that dream continues to grow because of all of YOU!
But here's something I've learned over the past 22 years: opening a Playhouse is just the beginning.
The ribbon-cutting is exciting, but it's what happens every day afterward that truly changes lives. Every tutoring session, every therapy program, every family that walks through our doors looking for hope; those moments are only made possible because communities continue to invest in their local Playhouse long after the grand opening.
With every new Playhouse we open, our impact grows... but so does our responsibility. Every Playhouse needs the ongoing support of its community to meet the growing demand for our free programs. And that need doesn't end when the doors open; in many ways, that's when the real work begins.
As you read this month's newsletter, I hope you'll celebrate Knoxville with us, but I also hope you'll think about your own local Playhouse. Whether you give your time, make a donation, attend an event, or simply help spread our message, your continued support keeps these life-changing programs free for every family who needs them.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us continue to grow. I'm so grateful you're part of this incredible community.
XOXO,
Nancy and GiGi
The GiGi’s Playhouse x MLB Tour comes to Cleveland
The summer baseball season is in full swing... but some of the most meaningful moments are happening beyond the diamond.
Last month, the GiGi’s X MLB tour stopped at GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland, where Texas Rangers player Jake Burger was joined by Cleveland Guardians players David Fry and Shawn Armstrong, along with manager Stephen Vogt.
During their visit, the group spent meaningful time with our participants through activities throughout the Playhouse, including reading books and helping participants practice their baseball swings. More importantly, they took the time to learn about the people and stories that make the GiGi’s community so special.
Inspired by his daughter, Penelope, who has Down syndrome, Jake continues to use his platform to raise awareness and celebrate the Down syndrome community. As the tour continues throughout the 2026 season, more MLB teams will have the opportunity to step inside GiGi’s Playhouses and experience the mission firsthand.
Coming soon: Knoxville to welcome 63rd Playhouse
On August 8, GiGi's Playhouse will celebrate an exciting milestone as we officially open the doors to our 63rd Playhouse: GiGi's Playhouse Knoxville!
In just a few weeks, individuals with Down syndrome and their families across East Tennessee will begin experiencing the free programs, lifelong support, and sense of community that make GiGi's Playhouse so special. But the journey to bring GiGi's to Knoxville has been years in the making.
For Board President Jessica Hoke, that journey began after she discovered GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh while raising her son, Ben. The Playhouse became a place where her family found support and hope. When they later moved to Knoxville, Jessica knew something was missing: GiGi’s Playhouse.
But she wasn’t alone.
Together with a group of dedicated parents and community supporters, the Knoxville startup was formed. They spent years raising funds, building awareness, and turning that vision into reality.
On August 8, that vision will be realized. We cannot wait to celebrate with Knoxville and officially welcome them into the GiGi’s Playhouse family!
Wherever life takes them, GiGi’s Playhouse is there
Life has taken the Yamazaki family across the country, but one thing has remained constant: GiGi's Playhouse.
For 7-year-old Tsubaki Yamazaki, GiGi's always been there. Tsubaki and her family’s journey began at GiGi's Playhouse New York, where they became part of a community that supported them through programs, friendships, and connections. But when life took the entire family across the country, they didn’t leave GiGi’s Playhouse behind; they simply found a new home — GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County.
Over the past several years, Tsubaki and her family have become an important part of the Orange County Playhouse, participating in literacy and math tutoring, Family Fun Nights, special events, and building friendships that extend far beyond our programs.
Now, as the Yamazakis prepare for their next move to New Jersey, they're saying goodbye to Orange County, but not to GiGi's.
Through our nationwide network of Playhouses and the GiGi's Virtual Playhouse, Tsubaki and her family will continue staying connected to the programs and community that have been with them every step of the way.
Because while life may take families in different directions, GiGi’s Playhouse is there... one way or another.
Some goodbyes are hard: Olivia’s volunteer story
When children outgrow Language, Music 'N Our Peeps (LMNOP), it's a milestone worth celebrating. But for one volunteer, it also meant saying goodbye to families she had grown to know and love.
Recently, Olivia celebrated her two-year anniversary as lead volunteer for LMNOP at GiGi's Playhouse Des Moines. An occupational therapist at Blank Children's Hospital, Olivia leads LMNOP, a program for children from birth to 36 months, introducing families to basic sign language and other forms of communication through music and language-based activities.
"I loved seeing the parents and their young children reach communication milestones together," Olivia shared. "Losing that connection after they turned three was a little sad, so I was hopeful I could find another way to connect with these families."
That desire inspired Olivia to start leading Leaps & Bounds at the Des Moines Playhouse, a program for children ages 3–5 that promotes social, emotional, and motor skill development. Now, instead of saying goodbye, Olivia gets to continue cheering on many of the same children and families as they grow.
That's what volunteering at GiGi's Playhouse is all about: building relationships that grow alongside our participants.
Interested in making an impact like Olivia? Find a volunteer opportunity at a Playhouse near you.
GiGi's Playhouse receives grant support from the Honda USA Foundation
GiGi's Playhouse is honored to receive a grant from the Honda USA Foundation in support of expanding GiGiFIT— our signature therapeutic and adaptive fitness program designed specifically for individuals with Down syndrome.
GiGiFIT addresses common mobility challenges through purposeful fitness activities that build strength, endurance, coordination, and confidence. The program empowers participants to develop essential skills that promote greater independence and active engagement in their communities.
This grant will allow us to expand and enhance GiGiFIT, reaching more individuals with Down syndrome while continuing to offer all programs at no cost to participants and their families.
We are grateful to the Honda USA Foundation for its commitment to expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities and helping create a world where everyone can experience the freedom and joy of movement.
Check out the latest from our blog
