Press Release – Hoffman Estates, IL, June 26, 2017 – On World Down Syndrome Day, March 21st, 2017, GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers launched “321 Days of Acceptance”, a pioneering social media campaign introducing the world to somebody with Down syndrome every single day for 321 straight days. In addition to the visual introduction, social media fans and followers learn something about each person’s life, and see how similar people with Down syndrome are to their peers. Today is Day 100 of the campaign, and 321 Days of Acceptance has officially reached more than one million people social media fans and followers – a life changing milestone! To commemorate the groundswell of exposure: today’s campaign post features global ambassador and organizational namesake, GiGi Gianni, who recently launched her own public Facebook page.
A first of its kind, 321 Days of Acceptance shows the world that every individual is worthy of acceptance, regardless of ability. This campaign is a component of GiGi’s Playhouse Generation G movement for global acceptance. Reinforcing this powerful message of acceptance, media powerhouse POPSUGAR released a video featuring adult interns at GiGi’s Playhouse live retail store, Hugs & Mugs that went viral in just days, in conjunction with the 321 Days of Acceptance campaign. As of today, that video has been viewed almost 9 million times.
“We are so humbled and grateful for the overwhelming response to this campaign thus far,” says founder and Chief Belief Officer Nancy Gianni. “321 Days of Acceptance is part of Generation G: a daily mindset to be accepting, generous and kind.
We’ve only just begun, but what we really need are more corporations and communities to do more than view a Facebook post. We need them to share and support this campaign! Just because our kids & adults succeed in Playhouse programs does not mean society will value what they offer as students, volunteers, coworkers and friends. We need genuine acceptance for our kids and adults each and every day. We need loving acceptance of our young moms, now that the average age to have a child with Down syndrome is only 28. We need millions of dollars to support our free purposeful programs that help get our kids ready for the world. And 321 Days of Acceptance helps get the world ready for them!”
One Playhouse family member added, “We hope another million people on social media get to meet our amazing kids in the next 100 days. And when you see our kids in a store, a restaurant, at a ballgame, or anywhere else – feel free to say hello and ask them about our lives. They all have something to say. They all have value. They all want to be accepted.”
To view all participants featured in the campaign please visit https://gigisplayhouse.org/321-days-of-acceptance-campaign.
