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 MoreDS 101 Best of All Books How I Learn Best of All best of all (noun) best of all is continual, measurable, celebrated and it never ends. It is a daily challenge to do a little better than you did the day before and it’s always celebrated. Possible manifestations: standing just one second longer, reading…
Read MoreComing Early 2021 A Little Something Extra, with Nancy Gianni and The GiGi -the FIRST video podcast co-hosted by an individual with Down syndrome! From A-list actors to athletes to everyday people, we’ll have something for everyone! Most important, we’ll celebrate each guests’ “something extra,” which is the piece of you that truly makes you who you are. A Little…
Read MoreHead on over to our National Playhouse Amazon Wish List or the National Playhouse Program Amazon Wish List to see what we are currently wishing for! Your willingness to give helps us continue to keep all of our programs FREE for our participants and their families! Thank you so very much! Questions? Please contact us…
Read More2022 Acceptance Calendar 2022 GIGI’S PLAYHOUSE CALENDAR MODEL CONTRACT GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc. produces quality, professional calendars year after year impacting our communities and raising acceptance for individuals with Down syndrome. As with all communications, we want the calendar to share the mission & WHY of GiGi’s Playhouse, which is to change the way the world…
Read MoreJoin in the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse to change the way the world sees Down syndrome by spreading the message of acceptance, generosity, and kindness with 321 ROCKS! Grab some rocks, paint, markers, glitter glue and other crafty goodies then get creative with words or drawings to spread positivity and awareness! Send your beautifully decorated…
Read MoreWhat is Down Syndrome Awareness Month? Originally established in the 1980s, the month of October is set aside to raise understanding of Down syndrome and the amazing abilities people with the diagnosis have. October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month and around here we like to call it Acceptance Month! This Down Syndrome Awareness Month, all…
Read MoreEnglish Translation Su generosa donación beneficiara los programas terapéuticos y educacionales GiGi’s At Home, que de manera virtual nos permite alcanzar más familias que pueden beneficiarse de nuestros servicios. Haga Su Donación “Disfruta un poco de salsa” de manera virtual con GiGi’s Playhouse y el artista Marlow Rosado, 2X ganador del Premio Grammy el Domingo…
Read MoreDonate Today! Your generous donations benefit GiGi’s At Home educational and therapeutic programs and allow us to reach more families who need our services. Donate Today! “Do a little salsa” virtually with GiGi’s Playhouse and 2X Grammy Award winning artist Marlow Rosado on Sunday, September 27, 2020 at 7PM EDT hosted by GiGi’s Playhouse Miami. Marlow’s…
Read More2022 Acceptance Calendar 2022 Calendar Theme: Inspire GiGi’s Playhouse produces quality, professional calendars year after year impacting our communities and raising acceptance for individuals with Down syndrome. As with all communications, we want the calendar to share the mission & WHY of GiGi’s Playhouse, which is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and send a global message…
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