NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS NEWS
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A word from our Founder, Nancy Gianni
Hello GiGi's Change Makers!
It’s happening again… we’re opening another Playhouse! And this one marks an incredible milestone: our 62nd GiGi’s Playhouse! In fact, as you read this, GiGi and I are on the road, heading to the Grand Opening celebration!
In just TWO DAYS (Saturday, May 17), we’ll officially cut the ribbon at GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston! Another community will soon have access to our FREE purposeful programs and lifetime support. This journey for them was longer than most because of the pandemic, but they never wavered. In typical GiGi’s fashion, this team persevered, and we are honored to be there to celebrate this incredible milestone with them!!
Sometimes, it’s hard for me to believe this is real. Twenty-two years ago, I opened the very first GiGi’s Playhouse as a promise to GiGi. My goal was to create a place where she and others like her would be seen as more than a diagnosis. I never imagined that one day we’d be traveling across the country together, opening our 62nd location — or that GiGi would be right there beside me, showing the world exactly why this mission matters.
As GiGi has grown, GiGi’s Playhouse has grown with her. Watching her shine at every Playhouse opening is one of the greatest honors of my life. And as a mom… it’s surreal. I am so proud of the woman she’s become and the impact she continues to make.
But this is your story, too! Our growth, our impact, and our ability to change lives is only possible because of the support and dedication of our families, volunteers, donors, and champions across the country. None of this would be possible WITHOUT YOU!
Please take a moment to read this month’s newsletter and learn about all the amazing things happening across our network of Playhouses this May and beyond!
XOXO,
Nancy and GiGi
Possibilities realized: Charleston to welcome 62nd Playhouse
It started with a Facebook post. After visiting our Raleigh Playhouse, Lynze Sykes, a Charleston mom, took to social media to share how inspiring her visit was. That single post sparked a conversation — first between local moms, then across the entire Charleston community.
They saw what was possible. They saw the need. And they got to work.
Now, after years of work and dedication, GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston is ready to open its doors. On Saturday, May 17, we’ll celebrate the launch of our 62nd Playhouse, the very first in South Carolina! Fueled by families, volunteers, businesses, and generous supporters, this new Playhouse will offer our FREE programming while also being a place of unlimited possibilities.
We’re proud to welcome Charleston into the GiGi’s Playhouse family!
Want to meet the heroes who made our Charleston Playhouse possible? Click here!
The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge: Moving for more than fitness
It fuels our mission. It funds our free programs. And it brings acceptance to life.
Taking place at Playhouses across the country, the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge (GFAC) is more than a fitness-focused fundraiser; it’s a movement to build a more accepting world.
These events allow our Playhouses to step outside our Playhouse walls and into our communities. Neighbors, friends, community leaders, and first-time visitors move alongside individuals with Down syndrome, seeing firsthand how much we all have in common, and where change is still needed.
GFAC also funds our mission, helping us provide FREE, life-changing programs. This year, we aim to raise $2.75 million across all our events, and we need your help!
Help us foster a more accepting world. Become a GFAC champion!
- Find an event near you: register as a team, individual, or volunteer
- Donate (as an individual or become a corporate sponsor)
- And, of course, please help us spread the word!
Growing beyond our walls: The power of capital campaigns
More space. More possibilities. More potential.
When people think about how GiGi’s Playhouse grows, they often picture ribbon-cuttings and new Playhouses opening across the country. But growth doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, it means expanding the walls we already have.
Currently, several Playhouses are in capital campaigns—multi-year, multi-phase fundraising efforts to expand their space, strengthen their program offerings, and meet increasing demand. These campaigns are a direct response to the rising need for lifelong support, especially as the adult population continues to grow.
These campaigns typically unfold over three phases and span three years, requiring long-term partnership and commitment. To succeed, we need donors and supporters willing to come alongside us for the full journey. Multi-year pledges help ensure we can complete each phase and open the doors to more life-changing opportunities.
Capital campaigns are a natural part of every Playhouse’s journey, but they’re about more than square footage. Every expansion creates space for more learning, confidence, and potential. Our capital campaigns are about building more than walls; they’re about building leaders, achievers, and brighter futures for individuals with Down syndrome and their families!
GiGi’s Hits the Big Leagues!
Texas Rangers player Jake Burger and his wife, Ashlyn, are helping bring MLB stars to GiGi’s Playhouses nationwide—inspired by their daughter, Penelope, who has Down syndrome!
This nationwide tour continues with the next three stops in Chicago, Tampa, and the Twin Cities. These visits are helping us amplify acceptance... one ballpark (and Playhouse) at a time!
**If you're in Chicagoland, join us at the Rangers vs. White Sox game at Rate Field on May 24! Get discounted tickets here and cheer on the mission with the GiGi’s Playhouse team!
More than music: Real skills, real confidence
Not all learning looks the same. At GiGi’s Playhouse, every free program is intentionally designed to support learning and promote growth, whether it’s educational, therapeutic, or skill-building through creative experiences.
Music Makers is a perfect example. While it may seem like just a fun music class, each session helps participants strengthen motor coordination, communication, and social interaction. Designed for school-age learners through adults, it turns rhythm and movement into real development.
Anna, a participant at GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau, is proof of this. Typically more reserved, Anna recently stepped out of her comfort zone in a Music Makers class, standing in front of the group to play both the drums and the guitar with confidence, coordination, and skill.
Programs like Music Makers may look like fun, and they are, but they’re also purposeful. They build skills, spark confidence, and help individuals like Anna shine in new ways. We’re so proud of her growth and can’t wait to see what she does next!
GiGi’s Journey is here!
Our magical new chapter book, created in collaboration with Harry Moon Books, features adventure, friendship, and a bold heroine with Down syndrome. Order GiGi’s Journey now and step into a story where inclusion takes center stage!
Growing together – A different kind of internship
At GiGi’s Playhouse, we’re all about learning, but it’s not just our participants who grow.
Two incredible volunteers from our Rochester Playhouse recently exemplified this growth. Kylie and Caroline, speech interns from Nazareth College, spent the semester leading group programs and tutoring in literacy. They brought creativity and energy to every session, ensuring every participant felt seen, heard, and included.
Along the way, they didn’t just teach; they learned. They built real-world skills, formed meaningful connections, and walked away with experiences that will shape their future careers. At GiGi’s, our volunteers don’t just teach; they learn!
Want to make a difference and grow in the process?
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