GiGi & Nancy on the Go!
Follow Nancy and GiGi on their adventures.
Meet Nancy and GiGi at one of their upcoming events!
Belting Through Challenges: GiGi’s Moment of Resilience
If you blinked, you might have missed it. This past weekend, GiGi Gianni, the namesake of GiGi’s Playhouse, the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, hit the stage for Down Country, an Awareness to Acceptance Concert for individuals with Down syndrome. Before country stars Conner Smith, Cooper Alan, Joe Nichols, and Scotty McCreery took…
We Did It Because She Did It!!!!!
GiGi’s Playhouse made a major league splash recently when our namesake, GiGi Gianni, sang the National Anthem at the Chicago Cubs game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Our Cubbies won, by the way!) The singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the megaphone to amplify our message of acceptance by showing ability, not disability. This magnification received…
The Power of Purpose
The Power of Purpose!! I spoke this past weekend at a Knights of Columbus retreat in front of hundreds of people who make it their mission to serve others. My mom was my hero and she taught me about serving others not only with her words but with her actions. She ran the SPRED group at our church for…
The Ripple Effect
Recently GiGi & I were in New Orleans doing a corporate event for the GiGi’s Playhouse New Orleans start-up team. While we were there we also were doing a book signing, we took an Uber to the signing and our uber driver was 81 years old, had 7 siblings and 33 Grandchildren! One of his…
Keeping a promise, even when it is scary.
When this picture popped up in my memories on Facebook, earlier this week, I got that same pit in my stomach that I had 6 years ago. Will this work, can we pay for it, did I go too far? Where am I going to get a million dollars to pay for…
GiGi’s Playhouse & The Peanut Butter Falcon. It starts with a promise.
The making of The Peanut Butter Falcon is not much different than the story of GiGi’s Playhouse! Doing the impossible and changing the way the world views Down syndrome! Like GiGi’s, this project started with a promise. I promised GiGi I would change the way the world saw Down syndrome. Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz…
Why Do Media Portrayals of Kids with Down Syndrome Matter So Much to Us?
I was so torn over the controversy about the Today Show segments with Shawn Johnson and Andrew East. First of all, congratulations to Shawn and Andrew! Every new parent should be congratulated, and every child should be celebrated. The anticipation of a new baby is one of the best possible gifts we get in our lives!! …
Why is this a big deal?
GiGi will be singing the National Anthem at the Chicago Cubs game on June 25th! Just take a moment to think about that! She will be giving hope to so many people who have watched their loved ones struggle to say just one word let alone sing the entire National Anthem! So GiGi’s Playhouse will…
Like a Boss!
After a whirlwind weekend at the Grand Opening of our 43 GiGi’s location in Charlotte North Carolina, GiGi still managed to unpack and get herself ready for school. As she was leaving for school, she said: “Can I go to the board meeting tonight after my work out?” The girl is a go-getter! She loves…
GiGi and Mario Lopez at the GiGi's Gala 2017
Steve Harvey and Ford Foundation Donation
On the Set of ABC's Windy City Live
Take the "GenerationG" pledge
and make a commitment to being accepting, generous and kind every day and in every way! By taking the pledge, you will join a new era of game-changers that we call #GenerationG!