In life, nothing happens overnight. Before a significant achievement, milestone, or modicum of success can be reached, days, months, and even years of hard work and determination must be put in. Our newest Playhouse, GiGi’s Playhouse Portland is a testament to this idea. Opening on September 28, our Portland Playhouse will be welcomed into the…
Read MoreBeing a parent to a newborn is one of life’s greatest gifts. But it can also be daunting. While parents are overjoyed by the arrival of this amazing new life, they also want to know that their child will have a bright future. This concern is amplified for parents of newborns with Down syndrome, who…
Read MoreAt GiGi’s, our Playhouses are like sanctuaries. Inside our walls, we offer our participants and their families more than FREE programming – we offer love, support, and acceptance. Our 60+ Playhouses are safe havens for individuals with Down syndrome and their parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, volunteers, and the entire community. The moment anyone steps through…
Read MoreIt started as a dream. Four years ago, three months into a global pandemic, Kirsten Riddick and Cara Armstrong, two mothers of children with Down syndrome, came together. Their idea was simple: create a social group for their children with Down syndrome, ideally close to their homes in Simi Valley, CA. What followed next is…
Read MoreFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 12, 2024 (Simi Valley, CA) — It’s a ribbon cutting 21 years in the making. GiGi’s Playhouse, the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, is thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of its newest Playhouse in Simi Valley, CA, on Saturday, August 17. The Simi Valley Playhouse marks the landmark…
Read MoreIf you tuned into the Olympics on Sunday, you witnessed something that directly relates to the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse. …Yes, you read that right. Though we are Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, and we absolutely love the Special Olympics, the plight and obstacles individuals with Down syndrome face aren’t simply relegated to the Special Olympics…
Read MoreNervous glances. Long stares. Muffled laughter. When people with disabilities, especially those with Down syndrome, enter public spaces, they’re often greeted with a mixed reception. Whether it’s at a school, restaurant, or grocery store, many members of the neurotypical population aren’t used to seeing individuals with disabilities, and because of this, many people don’t…
Read MoreAt GiGi’s, our Playhouses offer purposeful, FREE programs that change our participants’ lives. We also offer programs designed to take our participants outside of our Playhouse walls and into their communities. These programs don’t just help our participants; they help community members with no ties to Down syndrome gain exposure, interact, and build meaningful relationships…
Read MoreDouble your donation, double your impact! A generous donor has agreed to match all donations up to $25,000! Play Video via GIPHY Donate Today Make a donation to change the life of an individual or family. Donate Now Donate Monthly Commit to ensure life-altering services are guaranteed free for all families. Donate Monthly Fundraise Start…
Read More2016 GiGi’s Playhouse Conference Acceptance in Action: GiGi’s Playhouse 2016 National Conference Taking action and changing the world together! 250 team members representing 39 Playhouses and start-up groups, as well as representatives from more than 15 corporate sponsors and partners, and even board members of local community foundations; all joined the GiGi’s Playhouse National Leadership Team…
Read MoreFrom the Founder & GiGi’s mom: Nancy Gianni When GiGi was born I was so afraid of the way people would treat her, and the pain it would cause my other kids. They love her so much and when I see the looks on their faces when people stare at her or make fun of…
Read MoreTHANK YOU! Your participation ensured that our 11th Annual National Golf Outing was an incredible day! You came out, teed off with us, and opened your hearts to help support GiGi’s Playhouse and our National Office. Your support helps us build FREE programming, facilitate understanding and foster a more inclusive community! We’d also like to…
Read MoreUpcoming events Inc Events GiGi’s Playhouse 4th Annual National Golf Benefit (Barrington, IL) (featuring first annual “GiGi’s Champion” Award ceremony) Monday August 28th, 2017 The 14th Annual GiGiFest Family Celebration Party (Hoffman Estates, IL) (debut of 2018 Annual Awareness Calendar) Sunday October 15th, 2017 GiGi’s Playhouse National Training Conference (Schaumburg, IL) November 15, 2017 September…
Read MoreNancy Gianni, founder and Chief Belief Officer of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers Open to all, GiGi’s is a place for families and the community to celebrate children and adults with Down syndrome and help them unleash one’s “Best of All”. Today there are 33 free-standing Playhouses throughout the United States and Mexico serving more…
Read MoreGiGi’s Playhouse Free Purposeful Programs Global Acceptance via Generation G Playhouse Locations Worldwide Let’s Change The World Together! GiGi’s Playhouse & HYROX #Run8Give8 Fundraiser Learn more here We all have a little something extra inside of us, and sometimes we don’t even know it’s there! Through the A Little Something Extra Podcast, we hear about the forces…
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Read MoreHow Your Charitable Gift of Stock Can Change a Generation GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers succeed because of courageous families, enthusiastic volunteers, dedicated donors and lots of BELIEF! Generous donors allow us to provide FREE PROGRAMS to over 25,000 individuals with Down syndrome and their families across the country and in Mexico. One way…
Read MoreThe Amina Grace Speech and Language Program The GiGi’s Amina Grace Speech and Language one-on-one program provides youth, teens and adults with greatly expanded opportunities to evolve and refine their speech and language skills. Effective enunciation, clarity of speech, word order and message meaning are paramount to fostering greater self-confidence, comprehension, problem-solving, school readiness, social…
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