The Childrens Charity of Buffalo and Western New York
Telethon and Hospital Pictures on our Internet pages - courtesy Julie Stefaniak from the Children's Hospital of Buffalo Medical Photography Department,Doug Hanes from the Buffalo General Hospital Medical Photography Department, Joseph Ventura of Custom Photography and Video , Joel Barone, and Joshua Parker.

For information on Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York,
Please call us at (716) 854-7577 or e-mail us at:  vcstaff@varietykidstelethon.com

Variety's Next Special Events:

Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York through the Pepsi Refresh Project donated a $2,500 check to Cradle Beach Camp.

Bryan Carr, Board Chairman for Cradle Beach Camp accepted the check from Michael Adams, Pepsi Regional Sales Manager, Ken Scibetta, Variety Heart Committee Chairman, Carol A. McMahon, Variety Past President and Richard Goldstein, Variety Executive Director.

Pepsi Buffalo, through the Pepsi Refresh Project chose Variety to present this special grant of funds to. In conjunction with Pepsi and the Variety Heart Committee, after a diligent search, chose Cradle Beach Camp to be the recipient of the donation.

Bryan Carr, stated that the funds will go towards helping handicapped and underprivileged children enjoy the many activities campers experience.

Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York through the Oprah's Big Give Fund donated $1,299 to St. Luke's Mission of Mercy / Our Lady of Hope School for a swing set/play center. This brand new piece of equipment will be used by students who attend the school and other children who reside on the East Side of Buffalo.

Michael Taheri, School Chairman for St. Luke's / Our Lady of Hope School accepted the check that was presented by Kenneth E. Scibetta, Variety Heart Committee Chairman.

Variety received a grant through the former Oprah's Big Give Show that aired on WKBW-TV. Variety was able to raise additional funds to more than double the original $10,000 grant received grow. Funds have been used primarily for programs and equipment in the Inner city of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

Our Lady of Hope School is a catholic school that provides a well rounded education to children in grades pre-K through 8th grade. The majority of the students reside on the East Side of Buffalo and are living at or below the poverty level. The school receives no financial support from any government agency or the Diocese of Buffalo.

Our 2013 Final Tote!
THANK YOU !!

52nd Annual

Sunday March 30, 2014   7:00am - 7:00pm

Official Countdown To Telethon 2014:

Buffalo, N.Y. - Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York in cooperation with Variety of the United States National Mobility Program presented 100 Huffy bicycles to underprivileged children from 13 charities throughout the WNY community on Wednesday June 22. In addition to the bicycles the Buffalo Police Athletic League presented each child that received a bicycle with a bike helmet.

Through the efforts of then US Variety President and Tent 7 Board member Carol McMahon a $5,000 grant was provided to Tent 7 through the Variety US National Mobility Program. The Board of Tent 7 voted to purchase the bicycles with the grant. 6 Volunteers assembled the bicycles that were presented at a picnic in Veterans Memorial Park in Tonawanda. In addiiton Wilson Green Freight company and Conway Trucking loaded and brought the bicycles to the park at no cost to Variety.

Children from the Police Athletic League, CAPS, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, Depew-Lancaster, East Aurora, Holland, and Northtowns, the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Center, Schiller Park Community Center, St. Luke's Mission and School, HANCI in Niagara Falls, YMCA Challenger in Batavia, and the Genesee County ARC were the recipients of the brand new Huffy bicycles.

The bicycles were presented by Kenneth E. Scibetta, Variety Heart Committee Chairman along with members of Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York. "Variety is pleased to be able to present these very special children with a brand new bicycle. It will immediately make their summer tremedously more enjoyable." said Scibetta. "These charities serve some of the most deserving children in their communities and Variety is happy to be able to help them."

Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York, Tent 7 presents 100 Bicycles to underprivileged children

United Nations International Day Of Mobility

BUFFALO, NY - Dec. 1, 2011- Variety the Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York, Tent 7 joined a nationwide effort of 14 Variety chapters, or Tents, to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 1 by presenting a specially designed adaptive bicycle to the CHC Learning Center in Williamsville, New York. CHC Learning Center provides quality educational, therapeutic and health services for students with multiple disabilities ranging in age from birth to 21 years and support services for their families. The bike is a specially adaptive bicycle from Freedom Concepts .

The United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an annual occasion to reaffirm and draw attention to the rights of people who live with disabilities worldwide.

"This brand new piece of equipment valued at over $4,700 will be used by children served by the CHC in their therapy programs. For many of these children, without this specially designed piece of equipment they would not have the chance to ever ride a bicycle. This bike also gives these very special children, freedom, mobility, and self confidence." said Kenneth E. Scibetta, Chairman of the Variety Heart Committee.

The focus of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a global expression of local efforts by Variety across the United States, Scibetta noted. According to U.N. Enable, Experience shows that when persons with disabilities are empowered to participate and lead the process of development, their entire community benefits, as their involvement creates opportunities for everyone - with or without a disability.

Variety Tents participating in the International Day of Persons with Disabilities include: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palm Desert, Calif.; Colorado; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Iowa; Detroit; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Buffalo and Western New York; Texas; and Wisconsin.

Variety the Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York

                 marks Disabilities Day with Gift of Mobility

Variety Presents Check to Holy Cross Head Start

Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York presented a $1,000 check to the Holy Cross Head Start Program for their annual Sweetheart Dance. This dance engages family participation in the program as the daughters invite their fathers and sons invite their mothers for a memorable evening. Over 800 people attended the first sweetheart dance held in June of 2011 where children and their parents enjoyed a live DJ, dancing, hot hors d'oeurves and photos under a balloon arch.

Cortland Purks, Holy Cross Head Start Executive Director and Kimberly Cudzilo, Center Director of the Holy Cross Head Start accepted the check which was presented by Kenneth E. Scibetta, Variety Heart Committee Chairman.

This event brings families together while broadening their exposure to new situations. "If it was not for this dance and our sponsorship, because of the families income constraints many of these children and their parents would not have the chance to enjoy themselves, get dressed up while taking their child out and making them feel special at this type of event. " according to Mr. Scibetta. "Variety is proud to be participating in this very special evening while helping the children in the program and their parents make memories that will last a lifetime."

Holy Cross Head Start is a family development program providing early, continuous and comprehensive childhood development in Pre-K programming for 3 and 4 year old children focusing on school readiness, literacy, math and social skills integrating children with disabilities throughout the program.

Variety presents $1,000 Check to Holy Cross Head Start

Congratulations to Hanna Smith..

The Winner of the 2012 Chevy Sonic
Donated by Paddock Chevrolet

Variety Presents Check to
Summit Educational Services

Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York donated $5,500 to the Summit Educational Resources Community Connections Program on Wednesday July 18, 2012. Funds being presented were raised during the 50th annual Variety Kids Telethon in March which was broadcast on Channel 7.

Dr. David Meichenbaum and Dr. Jennifer Toomey, Directors of the Community Connections Program accepted the check presented by Kenneth E. Scibetta, Variety Heart Committee Chairman.

The funding will provide scholarship support to enable students to attend Summit's Community Connections Program (CCP), a six-week summer treatment program for children and adolescents, ages 5 – 16, with high functioning autism or other disabilities. The program operates five days per week for six weeks each summer, offering social skills training to more than 40 participants at Amherst High School.

"We are so pleased to be able to present this check to Summit Educational Services for their summer program." according to Ken Scibetta, Chairman of the Heart Committee. "This
program will help these special children enjoy summer while learning valuable life skills."

Variety Presents Freedom Concepts Adaptive Bicycle to
Cantalician Center

On Friday July 27, 2012 Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York in cooperation with Freedom Concepts donated a specially adaptive bicycle to the Cantalician Center. This brand new piece of equipment valued at over $3,700 will be used by children served by the Cantalician Center in their education, recereation and therapy programs. For many of these children, without this specially designed piece of equipment they would not have the chance to ever ride a bicycle. This bike also gives these very special children, freedom, mobility, and self confidence.

Kathleen Mariano, Board Chairperson for the Cantalician Center and Catherine Phillips-Russ, Director of Education accepted the bicycle presented by Kenneth E. Scibetta, Variety Heart Committee Chairman and Todd Owlett, Freedom Concepts Manufacturers Representative.

Variety is able to donate this bicycle in thanks to a grant from Freedom Concepts and the generosity of Western New Yorkers during the 50th annual Variety Kids Telethon, broadcast in March on WKBW-TV Channel 7.

International Day Of Disabilities and Variety Celebrates Mobility with presentation of Freedom Concepts Adaptive Bicycle to
League For The Handcapped, Inc.

Buffalo, NY. December 3, 2012 - Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York as part of the International Day of Persons With Disabilities and in cooperation with Freedom Concepts donated a specially adaptive bicycle to the League For the Handicapped Preschool Learning Center for use with children with disabilities at their Pre-School in Springville.

Christine Lewis, Executive Director for the League For The Handicapped Preschool Learning Center accepted the bicycle which was presented by Diane Kuciel, Variety Heart Committee Chairman, Carol A. McMahon, US Variety Board of Directors Secretary and Todd Owlett, Freedom Concepts Manufacturers Representative.

"This brand new piece of equipment valued at over $3,700 will be used by children served by the League For The Handicapped PreSchool Learning Center in their therapy and recreation programs." commented Diane Kuciel, Variety Heart Committee Chairman.

"The focus of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a global expression of local efforts by Variety throughout the world." said Carol A. McMahon, US Variety Board of Directors Secretary. "For many of these children, without this specially
designed piece of equipment they would not have the chance to ever ride a bicycle. This bike also gives these very special children, freedom, mobility, and self confidence."

Tuesday April 30, 2013 - Buffalo News Kids Day

Saturday May 11, 2013 - World's Largest Yard Sale -
Fairgrounds Event Center

Monday May 13, 2013 - Variety Golf Tournament -
Lancaster Country Club