GiGi’s Playhouse, a network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, has been awarded a $2 million grant by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving.
With over 6,300 nonprofits applying, GiGi’s was one of only 361 organizations selected to win the prestigious grant. There 53 Gigi’s Playhouses including one in Moline that serves the Quad Cities area.
In a news release, GiGi’s Playhouse said it originally applied for a $1 million grant, but after a lengthy and intensive vetting process that included peer and external evaluators GiGi’s Playhouse stood out as one of the highest-scoring organizations. As a result, Yield Giving awarded GiGi’s a $2 million grant — double the initial ask.
“This generous grant will give GiGi Gianni and all her friends a voice and help strengthen our foundation as we continue to grow to meet the needs of our Down syndrome community,” said Nancy Gianni, founder and chief belief officer at GiGi’s Playhouse. “This will allow us to expand our free programs to thousands of new families.”
This grant will make an immediate impact, empowering GiGi’s Playhouse as it continues to expand its free programming while staying committed to its core mission: to change the way the world views Down syndrome and send a global message of acceptance for all.
GiGi’s Playhouse is the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers dedicated to providing free therapeutic, educational, and career programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. For more information, visit here.
