GiGi’s Playhouse Network Quarterly Newsletter
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20 years ago, when I was pregnant with GiGi, I remember telling my husband, “This baby is already changing me for the better. She is going to be the President or a World Leader!” From the womb, she was already pushing me to stand up for what was right at all costs. Seeing her shaking hands with the Dignitaries from Qatar at the United Nations last week really brought that full circle.
(See story below)
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This year marks the 20th anniversary of GiGi’s Playhouse! 20 years of free programs, inspiration, and BELIEF, and we could not have done this without all of you! Every consultant said it could not be done, yet here we are! Our model of FREE programs, brick-and-mortar locations, and global acceptance is truly changing the world! With 57 GiGi’s locations and serving families in 83 countries with our Virtual Playhouse, we are letting the world know we are here; we are capable, and we are proud. A huge thank-you to our 99% volunteer-run network, our boards, and our donors – we truly could not do this without you.
We are back to our pre-pandemic numbers with almost 4,500 free program hours each week! Though we are 20 years old, we still function like an entrepreneurial start-up and cannot wait to see what the next 20 years will bring!
Love, Nancy and GiGi
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EARLY INTERVENTION CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON A CHILD’S ABILITY TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND INCREASE THEIR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE
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From prenatal diagnosis to taking those first steps to reading, GiGi’s has a variety of programs for early learners and their families. These programs are designed specifically for individuals with Down syndrome and support the entire family. Our Early Learner programs include GiGiFIT You & I, LMNOP (aka Language Music N Our Peeps), GiGiFIT Infant, Leaps & Bounds, GiGiFIT Toddler, GiGi’s Amina Grace Speech & Language program, with Literacy & Math Tutoring starting at age 3.
LEARN MORE HERE
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We have had over 120,000 program participation hours in our Early Learner programs
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LMNOP was designed by a mom who happens to be an SLP from our Quad Cities location in 2012
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At least one Early Learner program is offered at each of our GiGi’s Playhouse locations
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We have had over 42,500 volunteer hours for our Early Learner programs
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GiGiFIT was designed in partnership with Mann Method PT which specializes in working with individuals with Down syndrome
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MADISON TEVLIN ON A Little Something Extra
PODCAST DROPPED TODAY!
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Big screen actress Madison Tevlin, an amazing actress with Down syndrome, will star alongside Woody Harrelson in the new movie Champions opening in theatres on March 10! GiGi, Nancy, and Franco had a chance to interview Madison on our A Little Something Extra podcast. Watch the podcast here YouTube, Podcast channels and website!
Coming soon! The Lucky Few’s Heather Avis, Ellen Boyer, the Brett Boyer Foundation and Sophia Sanchez, a 14-year-old with Down syndrome starring in the Hunger Games! Be ready to laugh, cry, and be inspired!!
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VIRTUAL PLAYHOUSE – HERE WE GROW!
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GiGi’s at Home was launched just 13 days after the world shut down in 2020, and now it’s transforming into the Virtual Playhouse! With a focus on underserved populations in rural, inner city, and international markets, as well as anyone who cannot get into a physical GiGi’s Playhouse location, the vision for the Virtual Playhouse is bigger than ever. It is becoming a global center for education, community, and empowerment! Based on incredible demand worldwide, the Virtual Playhouse instantly became our 4th largest Playhouse and now serves families in all 50 states and over 80 countries! Come visit the Virtual Playhouse and experience GiGi’s from anywhere you can get an internet connection.
Seeking a volunteer opportunity? You can engage from anywhere in the world and be a part of the joy and celebration of GiGi’s and the Down syndrome community!
READ MORE HERE
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115 Volunteers from 10 Home Depot stores devoted a Day of Service, giving makeovers to several Northern Illinois Playhouses, including the National/Hoffman Estates, McHenry County, Rockford, and Fox Valley. The Home Depot volunteers fulfilled as many wish list items as possible. They provided all the supplies and materials and hope to make this a bigger partnership with long-term impacts in more markets. The National Playhouse Office received new cabinets, shelving, and other items to increase the needed storage as we grow! Rockford, McHenry County, and Fox Valley received new flooring, fresh paint, and furniture, among other items.
“1 day with over 115 associates participating. My heart is full, and I am so PROUD of our District! The impact we made for these families is priceless and they are beyond grateful!”
-Home Depot District 145 Project Leader
CHECK OUT THIS NEWS STORY
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WE, the people of the Down syndrome community, are challenging YOU to move for acceptance! The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge is a peer-to-peer fundraising fitness campaign hosted by the Down syndrome community with the goal of creating universal acceptance for all!
With 50+ GiGi’s Playhouse events worldwide, we will bring people together to MOVE for acceptance! The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge invites Playhouse participants, families, communities, and corporate America to celebrate and spread GiGi’s Playhouse’s central mission of global acceptance for all through fun-filled activities and fitness-based challenges.
The Challenge:
To spread acceptance to your kids, colleagues, church group or anyone!
Actions speak louder than words, and we ALL learn by doing.
Join the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge to say
“I can and will accept you as you are.”
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AROUND THE GIGI’S NETWORK
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Join a team of experienced educators and therapists from across the GiGi’s Playhouse network to learn how to teach individuals with Down syndrome the way they learn best. Since 2003, we have been working nonstop to empower individuals with Down syndrome to reach their fullest potential and move toward independence.
We encourage the families we serve to invite their teachers, paraprofessionals, and therapists to join us.
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Please donate to the Educator Symposium to help us continue bringing these FREE resources to families.
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We are looking for additional Universities or Colleges interested in offering FREE Continuing Professional Education Credits.
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OUR SECOND MEETING WITH THE
DIGNITARIES FROM QATAR
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As promised, after the World Cup, we had our second meeting with the Dignitaries from Qatar. This time they asked to meet at the United Nations. It was such an honor to meet with her Excellency Ms. Mariam Almisnad, the Minister of Social Development and the Family of Qatar and Her delegation. She is the first woman to hold this position. We are excited about this partnership and what it can lead to! A big thank you to GiGi’s Playhouse NYC, GiGi’s Playhouse Long Island, and GiGi’s Playhouse Westchester for participating in this history-making event.
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HAVE YOU SEEN GIGI ON TIKTOK OR INSTAGRAM?
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Check out her social media to see some great clips of her working out and picking out her Gala dress
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Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved.
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When will the Portland, Oregon location be opening? I have a granddaughter who is one-year old and I’d love to get her involve!
Should be mid 2024, check out the progress at https://gigisplayhouse.org/portland/