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GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge: Bringing Acceptance to a Playhouse near you!
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The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge (GFAC) is in full swing! Happening across the country, GFAC is a fitness challenge that brings people together to raise awareness, acknowledge, and support the challenges in the DS community.
By bringing communities together in this MOVE FOR ACCEPTANCE, we aim to build programming, facilitate understanding, and foster a more inclusive community! To accomplish this, our goal is to raise $2.5 million across all our events, and we need your help!
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Can we count on you? Please join us. Become a GFAC champion!
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And, of course, please help us spread the word!
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GFAC Sponsor Highlight: Woolx!
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“My brother, Dom, is the Director of Fun for Woolx and also happens to have Down syndrome. Dom is the heart and soul of Woolx, one of my best friends and a shining light in the world. GiGi’s has become such a pillar in his life and our community. They support and strengthen so many families,”
-Nicole, Woolx Owner & Founder
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Special thanks to Woolx, our GFAC Gold Medal Sponsor, for being a Certified #GenerationG Organization and partnering with us to spread acceptance and inclusivity throughout all our GFAC events!
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Playhouse Grand Re-Openings — Here We Grow!
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This spring, it’s not just flowers that are in bloom! April featured Grand Re-Openings for three of our Playhouses: Atlanta, GA; Deerfield, IL; and Lancaster, PA. These events signify a bold step forward in our mission. By moving into a larger space, each of these Playhouses can expand their programming, reach more families, and create a more lasting impact in their communities! And let’s not forget, all three introduced their new locations in style with fantastic parties!
Did you know…?
In the first five years after opening, 60% of Playhouses expand into a larger space to serve more families.
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Miss Teen Delaware Breaks Barriers 🎉
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Join us in celebrating Kayla Kosmalski for making history and being crowned Miss Delaware Teen USA! Kayla is the first contestant with Down syndrome to win this title!
Having participated in pageants since the age of five, Kayla, now a high school senior, is showing the world that individuals with Down syndrome can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Kayla will continue making history when she represents Delaware in the upcoming Miss Teen USA Pageant on Aug. 1, becoming the first delegate with Down Syndrome to ever take part in the national competition. We can’t wait to cheer her on!
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Reading is Hard. We’re Here to Help.
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Joe Pawsey had a complicated relationship with reading.
Like so many individuals with Down syndrome, negative school experiences left Joe lacking confidence… until he joined the GiGi’s Literacy Tutoring Program through our Virtual Playhouse. With the help of his tutor, not only did Joe’s literacy and speech greatly improve, but GiGi’s helped Joe reignite his spark for learning, renew his confidence, and even gain acceptance into his dream college!
And it didn’t stop there—the ripple effect extended to Joe’s family, touching their lives in profound ways! Read how “GiGi’s made all the difference in Joe’s life” and find out where Joe is heading here.
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GiGi’s Playhouse Evolves with Cutting-edge Research
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Low muscle tone. Joint instability. Low heart rate.
We know these attributes are commonly associated with Down syndrome, but there’s still so much we don’t know. Dr. Sarah Mann, the physical therapist who devised our GiGiFIT programming, is working to change that!
Dr. Mann collaborated with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cardiovascular Research and Exercise Lab (CARE Lab) to examine the cardiovascular side of Down syndrome. The maximum heart rate for individuals with Down syndrome is 25-30 beats per minute lower than that of the average population and the CARE Lab is studying what effect this has on exercise capacity.
Sounds complicated? Don’t worry. GiGi’s is on it! Not only will we pay close attention when the CARE Lab unveils its findings in October, but we’ll also incorporate them into our GiGiFIT programming. As the research around Down syndrome evolves, we evolve with it!
To delve deeper into the CARE Lab study, click here.
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Dive into our latest episode of the podcast with Mary Borman, aka “Mermaid Mary”! Back by popular demand, Mary brings a wave of fresh stories that’ll leave you hooked!
Catch up with Mary as she talks about her life both in and out of the water. A competitive swimmer, model, public speaker, and self-advocate, Mary wears many hats (or fins)! Mary sits down with Nancy, GiGi, and Franco to discuss her triathlon training, the importance of nutrition, and she even shares some model-worthy tips!
This episode is a boatload of fun! Don’t miss out, tune in now!
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Make a donation to change the life of an individual or family.
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Give your time to help us change the way the world sees Down syndrome.
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