Spring Break GiGi’s Style!

Another Gianni family adventure is in the books! My crew was ready to kick off the #GenerationG Book tour and spend World Down Syndrome Day in Florida with our friends from GiGi’s Playhouse Gainesville. GiGi signed books and made new friends. We even had our friends from  GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne! The whole family celebrated and enjoyed meeting so many people who are living a Generation G life and spreading the GiGi’s Playhouse mission in their community! What struck me most about visiting this Playhouse was the appreciation from the volunteers. They were so grateful to have such a great place to volunteer! What?? We cannot do this without you! There I was with nothing but appreciation and gratitude for THEM and they were thanking me! Being 99% volunteer run we depend on these amazing volunteers! I cannot help but thank God for giving us the best volunteers around!

Next stop MIAMI!! WOO HOO! We had a fantastic meeting with the startup team from GiGi’s Playhouse Miami and of course, GiGi was sure to sign some books! Sharing the mission, vision, and passions of GiGi’s Playhouse with fellow believers in individuals with Down syndrome is one of my favorite things! This team is going to do BIG things!!! It really brought me back to the beginning days of planning the opening of our very first GiGi’s in my basement! The excitement, the determination, the fear, all of it! The only difference now is that we have created a replicable model for them to follow! I was so proud as I took them through the GiGi’s power point and showed them how THEY were going to help us change the world and that we would be with them every step of the way. They were blown away and actually so was I! I am generally not in the beginning phases of a startup GiGi’s anymore and it felt good to share the GiGi’s model with a brand new team. There were physicians, attorneys, CEO’s and parents at the meeting and they all came together for one common goal, to make the world a better place and serve individuals with Down syndrome and their families. I was grateful to be a part of this meeting and I cannot wait to see what GiGi’s Miami will do in the future!

Next GiGi and I made a video for GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte to celebrate their Field of Dreams fundraiser that raised over $100,000 in 22 days! I love watching GiGi in those videos, she truly is proud of each and every location and loves to celebrate with them. You Can see our message of pride and excitement HERE!

Then we headed to Deerfield Beach for some family time spring break fun!! Fishing, kayaking, beach, food, and fun! We also were able to squeeze in a visit with our friends from the Levitetz Family foundation! They have been supporting GiGi’s since Jeff Levitetz saw our commercial (PSA) on TV during a Hawks game!! Coincidence? I think not! Another GiGi’s miracle in action!

NEXT UP! GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego GRAND OPENING! GiGi & I are hopping on a plan to the west coast! Another adventure to the opening of our 37th location a visit with our brand new start-up team in Orange County CA! Woo Hoo!

“On the road again…” Come on start singing with me! “Going places that I never been…”