Why Is It Important for Us to Bring GiGi’s to New Orleans?

GiGi’s Playhouse founder Nancy Gianni recently shared an interaction that shows us why it is so important for us to bring GiGi’s to New Orleans:

You never know where the conversation of GiGi’s will come up, but we know it always will!  Last week I was talking to a woman at the gym who I can tell is intrigued by GiGi’s Playhouse; she always tells me that she knows people who know me and who know of GiGi’s Playhouse. I told her she should stop by sometime and get a tour, it’s an awesome place! She said “oh no, I’m very emotional and I can’t see people who are hurting or who have something wrong with them.” [Side note: What?!? To parent to a child with Down syndrome, that last statement is a punch in the gut.]

I responded: “Well that’s not what you’re going to see! At GiGi’s you’re going to see strength, not weakness; you’re going to see empowerment, you’re going to see energy, you’re going to see people working towards being the best person they can possibly be!  (That doesn’t only include the participants with Down syndrome but their families, the volunteers, the GiGi’s team members and anyone who stops in!) We are all about positive energy and being the best YOU that YOU can possibly be!

It really made me sad that people think walking into a GiGi’s would be a sad experience. It was not her fault she didn’t know but I just see how much more work we have to do and I am grateful we have over 56 GiGi’s teams all over the country and in Mexico working towards our mission of changing the way the world sees Down syndrome! This is a pic of GiGi waiting for speech therapy with Dr. Jay – nothing sad about this girl!

Thank you all for all that you do!! We truly are stronger together and the world is listening! Keep sharing the JOY, ACHIEVEMENT and BELIEF!

We could not have said this better, Nancy.  GiGi’s Playhouse is all about belief, achievement, and ability, not the disability.  Above all, it is about JOY.

Wishing you Joy this week,

Ella’s mom, Sandy