Quarterly Highlights: April – June 2022

It’s a Wrap!

GiGi’s NYC recently closed out our Spring Semester, and we could not be happier with how it turned out! It was a semester filled with so many highlights and achievements by our participants. Check out the recap below to read about our amazing second quarter:

• ​​​​​We re-launched Leaps and Bounds, a program for families with children ages 3-5 aimed to promote fine and gross motor development, speech and language development, and socialization.
• We teamed up again with CO/LAB Theater Group for a residency with a new and exciting curriculum. Our actors explored the ways their bodies can tell a story using inspiration from sound, object, movement, etc.
• We piloted our One-to-One Math Tutoring Program.
• We collaborated with Marco Santini, an award-winning NYC-based artist, fashion designer, photographer, and inventor who draws inspiration from inclusion, positivity, and language. He led our participants in creating artwork which will be featured at our 10th Anniversary Gala on 10/20/22.
• We re-launched Community Chorus to prep our participants for their highly anticipated performance at our upcoming Gala.
• We held our 4th Annual Fashion Show, which raised over $10,000, our most successful one to date.
• GiGi’s NYC parents and caregivers had a “night out” at the Playhouse, where they painted their own masterpiece via a guided lesson. 
• Dr. Bonnie Keilty, Professor and Chair of the Special Education Department at Hunter College, presented an interactive three-part Early Intervention & Child Development series for parents and caregivers with children ages prenatal to 3.
• The BenAnna Band jammed out with our community, thanks to their high-energy musical performance.
• We celebrated our 2022 graduates with a party in their honor. We had multiple participants who graduated from high school this year – sky’s the limit!
• With the mentorship of our Associate Board, our inaugural Youth Board hosted our 8th Annual Dancing for Down Syndrome event. They organized an amazing event and raised over $20,000!
• We hosted a special edition of Fantastic Friends during a visit from our Chief Belief Officer, Nancy Gianni, THE GiGi Gianni, Franco Gianni, Qatari Minister of Social Development and Family, Mariam Al-Misnad, and several Qatari Dignitaries.