Variety of Illinois
Variety - the Children's Charity is an enthusiastic group of business leaders who donate their time, resources and energy to positively impact the lives of children in their own communities, and around the world.
VARIETY OF ILLINOIS NEWS ARTICLES
"Variety of Illinois continues its support of 2011 Catherine Variety Sheridan Awardee Dr. Ilbawi, who's groundbreaking research efforts are helping new generation of babies survive potentially deadly heart defects."
My kid's going to walk
Source Northwest Herald
By JAMI KUNZER - jkunzer@shawmedia.com
When Josh Silvern struggles for words, he reaches out his hand.
His mom, Sherry, is usually there to hold it.
"OK," she says calmly, "try me again."
And she listens, her head tilted toward his, her other hand on his cheek in an effort to ease the sounds out of him. Josh speaks, and she interprets. It's a language born from love, understanding and determination on both their parts.
Since Josh was born more than 13 years ago and Sherry adopted him at 3 days old, he's had to overcome numerous infections, seizures, misdiagnoses.
Doctors once said he'd never walk or talk.
"My kid's going to walk, and my kid's going to talk," Sherry responded. And he did.
Josh Silvern's mother Sherry tries
to stop one of Josh's involuntary
mannerisms Friday November 18, 2011
in Crystal Lake. Josh has an overlying condition
is called neurodevelopmental delay.
The bike might not seem significant, as riding one often is taken for granted. But for Josh, the bike can serve as physical, emotional and developmental therapy. Diagnosed with more than 17 conditions, including verbal and oral apraxia, global dyspraxia, global hypotonia, sensory integration dysfunction and cognitive and developmental delays, Josh's overall, "umbrella" diagnosis is neurodevelopmental delay.
He can't ride a regular bike, but the adapted bike will allow him to venture out into his Crystal Lake neighborhood, perhaps even ease some of the anxiety he suffers as a result of an anxiety disorder.
Josh is no stranger to facing that anxiety head-on. He doesn't like the loud noise of trains, but urges his mother to take him throughout the country to see them.
He doesn't like the sound of the vacuum cleaner either. But he won't let his mom put it away.
"It's like he challenges himself to overcome things," Sherry said.
So when Sherry, a single mom, stumbled across a "Kids on the Go!" initiative offered through Variety of Illinois, she applied. The charity offers financial assistance and services to children and organizations that serve children with disabilities.
Click here to Continue Reading...
Variety Day at Wrigley with Miss World Alexandria Mills was a huge success!
The day started off with a live in-studio interview on WGN, then proceeded onward to Wrigley Field, where we made the dreams of two Variety-supported kids come true by singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame with Miss World during the 7th inning stretch. What a unforgettable experience for everyone involved (especially those two lucky Variety kids!).
If you missed the interview, here it is:June 27: Midday Fix - Alexandria Millson on WGN
.Hockey Dream Come True
In recognition and celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Friday, December 3rd, Variety of Illinois made the dreams of two wonderful youngsters come true by presenting them with the gift of adaptive hockey sleds and equipment. Chicago's WCIU - "The U" television covered the proceedings, which took place at beautiful Millennium Park ice rink.
To view TV coverage, click here
To view photo gallery, click here
Variety Gives Thousands to Help Keep Kids on the Go!
President Michelle Baert
with Heather Verzina from Neil School
and Variety Board Member Venisha White-Johnson
There’s nothing Variety of Illinois likes better than helping kids, especially those with disabilities. In fact, Variety recently donated $5,000 on September 23 to Neil School, located at 8555 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. There are 360 students from kindergarten through 8th grade. A portion of their students have disabilities and lack adequate sports equipment. The equipment they have is for children under eight and 65 kids use the mobility equipment.
Venisha White-Johnson hands out Variety bags.
The money will be used to purchase adaptive bikes for the kids. Variety provides mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs and adaptive bikes that insurance won’t cover. Public schools typically lack the funding to provide for this type of recreational gear. Heather Verzina, a physical therapist from Neil School, was very resourceful and found a generous benefactor willing to give a matching grant. The school will be able to buy a total of four bikes.
Lions, and tigers and Bears, oh my!
Bears Camp Footbol Team.
Partnering with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD), which provides therapeutic recreation and competitive opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, Variety, the Children’s Charity of Illinois sent dozens of volunteers help children with disabilities learn the basics of football at their recent Bears camp held on August 7th. From knocking down dummies to catching touchdown passes, and weaving through an obstacle course, about 70 kids had a ball!
is partnering with professional sports franchises, regional parks and recreation agencies and therapeutic agencies across the United States to host NSCD Sports Camps. These free, interactive camps feature basic drills adapted to individuals with any type of disability ages 6 to 18. The 2-hour camps include instruction, use of equipment and will wrap up with a lunch or snack celebration for all. There also may be appearances by players or alumni players, mascots and coaches. The camps are perfect for anyone interested in learning about a sport, developing a new skill, or just having fun!
This is One Can-do Kid
Variety President Michelle Baert presents Brittany
with a $1,000 donation.
Sno-Cones are not just a refreshing summer treat. Brittany Bosca, the 14 years old daughter of Variety Board Member John Bosca, gets the job done by raising money from Sno-Cone sales that support the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Burn Camp. This camp is for children who are burn survivors aged 8-16 years old. When she was only 6 years old, Brittany raised $235 by selling Sno-Cones. This year Brittany's Burn Camp Benefit raised over $12,100 at her 9th Annual Sno-Cone Benefit held on Saturday, July 24th at her Chicago home.
Brittany Bosca surrounded by Axemen supporters.
Variety of Illinois also supports Brittany’s efforts through a $1,000 contribution. One hundred percent of the donations go to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Burn Camp, which costs approximately $2,000 per child for one week of camp held every June. It's a week where kids can forget about their burns and just have a great time. Over the past eight years, Brittany has raised over $60,000 for this very special camp.
Brittany with the Axemen, an international motorcycle club made up of firemen, presenting Brittany with a $250 check and an honorary membership.
Chicago at Play Sept. 2010: Adaptive Summer Camp
Adaptive summer camp is available at the Chicago Park District thanks to the support of the charity, Variety of Illinois.
Hole in One for Variety’s Annual Golf Outing
Variety Leadership.
The early morning rain did not deter dozens of Variety supporters and golf enthusiasts when Variety held its, 59th Annual Golf Outing and Awards Dinner on August 4th at the beautiful Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale.
Kelly, John, and Mike Sherkey
enjoy the evning.
Key and Terry McCullom enjoy
auction goodies
Over 100 checked out the fabulous silent auction items including two state of the art TVs and DVD player donated by Best Buy during the cocktail reception, generously sponsored by Marcus Theatres. Before enjoying the delicious dinner, attendees heard from Mike and Kelly Sherkey, whose son 5-year old son, John, received an adapted bike through Variety. Seeing exactly where their donations go created all kinds of excitement! Raffle sales soared and participants scrambled before the end of the night competing for silent auction items and the chance to help even more kids like John.
Click here to see more photos
Angelique Brunsman recives the Presidentel
Citation from Michelle Baert President.
A special Presidential Citation went to Angelique Brunsman, a wonderful friend of Variety of Illinois for many years. Angelique’s brainchild is an Academy Award Viewing Party held on Oscar night at the Hollywood Palms, 100 percent of the proceeds – thousands of dollars – going to Variety.
If you were not able to attend this year’s event, but would like to make a donation, please visit www.varietyofillinois.org/donate.html.
Special thanks go to longtime Golf Outing Chairman Lou Michael, for another successful event!
Variety appreciates and thanks the following Hole Sponsors:
AMC THEATRES |
KERNEL SEASONS |
Variety also thanks our steadfast supporters:
20TH CENTURY FOX |
KIDS BY PICASSO |
Variety puts kids on the go
When Blake Harmet was born, his mom worried he wouldn't be able to play like all the other little boys.
"We decided early on that Blake would participate and do as much as he could, like any other kid," his mom, Lisa, says. Blake apparently decided the same thing. He has been playing basketball since he was 6, plus tennis and softball. This year, the Warriors, an adaptive basketball team he plays on, took the state championship, thanks in no small part to Variety Children's Charity's donation of two sports wheelchairs to the team.
Click here to Read more at Chicago Parent.
Variety Around the World Congregates and Celebrates
Brits and the Irish mingled with Aussies and New Zealanders while barkers, board members, administrators and Variety supporters from around the world reconnected and learned from one another at the 83rd Variety International World Conference held May 19-23 in Hollywood, CA.
Over 250 gathered at the Renaissance Hotel where International Chairman Monty Hall welcomed those from all the worldwide tents throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East to celebrate their progress and give them the resources to make their tents stronger. Participants shared their success stories and provided resources for helping others to take their tents to new heights.
Because Hollywood is known as a place where “dreams come true,” the focus was on helping disabled and disadvantaged children experience more enriched lives and giving them the hope that this can be true for them, too. One of the highlights was hearing a children’s choir perform with energy and enthusiasm knowing that Variety is actively working to improve their quality of life
The White House sent a special message from President Barack Obama that read, in part:
Variety the Children’s Charity should be commended for the great work it does on behalf of children across the globe, and each of you applauded for your contributions to this wonderful charity. Children everywhere are counting on organizations like Variety to provide assistance when there is nowhere else to turn.
In addition to the presentations that covered a wide range of topics from Legacy Giving and Text Message Donations by the British Columbia tent to the Santa Fun Run by the New South Wales tent and Social Marketing by the Iowa tent there were many awards given out to tents and individuals whose achievements have made the greatest difference.
There were whoops and cheers for the announcements of the William R. Forman Heart Award winners. We were very proud to hear the BRONZE HEART went to Tent 4, Variety of St. Louis, the SILVER HEART went to Tent 17, Variety of Texas and the band played Hava Na’gila when Israel was announced as the GOLD HEART winner.
Other honored awards went to the following winners:
- Humanitarian Award - Simon Cowell
- Catherine Variety Sheridan Award - Dutchess of York, Sarah Ferguson
- Corporate Award - The Coca-Cola Company
- Sir James Carerras Award - Dr. Luis Montes
Please click here to view the TENT PRESENTATIONS and to learn more about, YOUNG VARIETY, URBAN VARIETY and VARIETY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS around the world: http://www.varietychildrenscharity.org/events_and_press/conventions.php
To view photos, click on the photo below to view the Picasa gallery:
Variety Donates Hundreds More
Michelle Baert, Variety President, presents
Variety´s check to Jaqueline Canty, Recreation.
Variety was thrilled to donate $500 to the Oak Lawn Park District Special Recreational Department to help them obtain needed items for their new facility. Each year the Oak Lawn Park District Special Recreation Department implements more than 100 quality recreation programs and services for both children and adults with special needs. Quality recreational programs such as Youth Programs, Social Clubs, and Special Olympics sports are only a few of the diversified opportunities for fun and development.
Their mission is to serve as an integral partner with their cooperative districts and villages to positively impact individuals with disabilities through diverse recreation opportunities and community services. The items on their wish list include a set of Social Story Books, which teach children to effectively deal with social situations, a soft play furniture set, an Adapta-Bench, and Cubbie Coat Center among other items.
Variety Supports Sports Camps for the Disabled
This article appears in the May 2010 issue of Chicago Parent Magazine. [Download printed article]
One-day, free sports camps are scheduled this summer for kids, 6-18, with physical or mental disabilities. cubscamp The Chicago Cubs and the city's five other professional sports teams will offer one-day camps this summer and fall for kids with mental or physical disabilities. The interactive camps feature basic skills adapted to children and their abilities. The two-hour camps include instruction, use of equipment and wrap-up with a lunch or snack.
Professional athletes and mascots usually make appearances, says Jody Grimaldi, spokesperson for Variety of Illinois, which hosts the clinics along with the National Sports Center for the Disabled and Chicago sports teams.
"It give these children the same chance as able-bodied children," Grimaldi says. "Really, it's all about having fun. We set up volunteers to field their hits and tees for kids in wheelchairs." The camp season includes a Chicago Fire soccer clinic, plus Cubs and White Sox baseball camps. A Chicago Bears camp will be held in August at the team's training facility in Bourbonnais, while Bulls and Blackhawks camps are slated for later in the year. Participants must register by going to www.nscd.org/programs/sportscamp_overview and clicking on the specific camp(s) or by calling (303) 293-5310. To volunteer helping with the camps, contact Janna Penhale at jannapenhale@gmail.com.
Northwestern University Students UNITY combines fashion and culture for Variety International
The third annual Unity Charity Fashion show combined fashion and philanthropy to raise a record $2,000 Saturday night in the Norris Student Center. 24 Northwestern student models strutted their stuff down the catwalk. Featured fashions came from various cultures as well as popular brands like Urban outfitters, Click, Akira and the Northface. Student designers Nicole Sobaski, Michelle Brown and Nadina Gerlach also made a showing.
The proceeds went to two select philanthropy organizations: The Generation Project and Variety Children’s Charity. Three-hundred-fifty students were in attendance. "We chose fashion because UNITY is a [product of] co-sponsorship of different cultural groups on campus," said co-president and Weinberg sophomore Leo Zhu. "This year we had 11 co-sponsors.
The founders chose fashion because fashion is a uniting aspect of every culture." Chicagoan artist Jabari Rayford kicked off the show with his entertaining renditions of pop and R&B songs. Singer/Songwriter Marie Digby, who has gained fame through her Youtube covers of popular songs, performed in the second half. Guitar in hand, she performed ‘Say it Again’, an original piece, an acoustic cover of Rihanna’s "Umbrella" and Beyonce’s "Sweet Dreams." Members of the audience sang along. Michelle Baert, President of Variety of Illinois, spoke about the roots of Variety Children’s Charity.
She explained that the philanthropy started when an infant was left abandoned on the steps of a movie theater and movie theater employees took the baby in. Since then, Variety of Illinois has provided programs and services for children with disabilities and disadvantaged youth. The Generation Project was the other recipient of UNITY’s donations. Jessica Rauch, founder of the Generation Project, spoke to the audience about her philanthropy’s goal, which is to allow donors to become "actively involved in their giving."
Lydia Hsu, UNITY model and Weinberg junior, called the show a success.
Variety Donates $5000 to the Chicago Park District’s Adaptive Sports Camps
For some children with disabilities, attending summer camp is something they hear about from classmates in the fall. The Special Recreation Department of the Chicago Park District offers hundreds of children and young adults with a range of physical and cognitive disabilities the opportunity to try sports, art, and music in an extremely accepting setting, so they don’t have to hear about camp from others. They can experience it firsthand.
Through one-week Adaptive Camps, participants have the chance to enjoy arts and crafts, adaptive cycling, swimming, fishing, adaptive sailing, sports, and kayaking.
In 2010, five camps will be offered throughout the Chicago Park District. Variety – the Children’s Charity of Illinois donated $5,000 to fund materials and supplies for:
Two Inclusive Sports Camp (Independence Park & Norwood Park): This camp is free of charge and is available for individuals with cognitive, physical and/or sensory disabilities and their siblings or peers. Activities include adaptive cycling, kayaking and fishing.
Paralympic Sport Camp (locations TBD): Camp for youth and teens with physical disabilities have an introduction to paralympic sports.
Adaptive Sports Camps (Mount Greenwood Park): This camp is for youth and teens with physical disabilities and a secondary disability.
Blind/Visually Impaired Sports Camp (Piotrowski Park or Davis Square Park): This camp is for youth, teens and young adults. Sailing, goal ball, beep baseball, swimming, track and field, and cultural activities will be offered.
Variety is thrilled to help give children with disabilities the way to experience summer camp, just like other kids do.
For more information about Chicagoparkdistrict.com
Variety Celebrates Board Member Linda Mastandrea’s Induction into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
Variety is pleased to announce our own Linda Mastandrea was recently inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, alongside Major League Baseball pitcher Dave Righetti, boxer Paulie Malignaggi, and Major League Baseball third baseman Gary Gaetti. Linda is the first female Paralympic athlete and only the second Paralympian ever inducted.
Linda is an attorney in Chicago, IL with a practice concentrating in disability law and advocacy. Introduced to wheelchair and disability sport while in college at the University of Illinois, Linda went on to compete in wheelchair basketball for 12 years, and in wheelchair track for 10.
She represented the United States in Paralympic, World Championship and Pan American competition in wheelchair track winning 15 gold and 5 silver medals over seven years. She held national and world records in all five distances in which she competed during her career.
Linda is a published author. Her recent book, Sports and the Physically Challenged: An Encyclopedia of People, Events and Organizations came on the market in October, 2006. She has also been published in numerous disability publications, including We Media, Exceptional Parent, Sports ‘n Spokes, and New Mobility magazines.
Linda is actively involved in the community, particularly around disability advocacy and sports issues. She serves on the city of Chicago’s Building Board of Appeals, as well as AT & T’s Advisory Panel on Accessibility and Aging. She serves on the board of Access Living, chairing their Lawyer’s Advisory Committee for two years. She is 2nd Vice President of Variety of Illinois’ board and works with them on their Kids on the Go! Program, helping children with disabilities obtain equipment like wheelchairs and adaptive bikes.
She was Vice President of the National Disability Sports Alliance, and served two years on the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors. She is a member of the legal committee of the International Paralympic Committee, recently served as Chairperson of the IPC Electoral Commission, and has worked with the IPC to promote human rights issues through the vehicle of Paralympic and disability sport. Most recently, Linda worked with Chicago 2016 as Director of Paralympic Sport and Accessibility, in the city’s quest to bring the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Chicago. She was honored to be part of the team that made the final presentation in Copenhagen, along with Mayor Daley, President and Mrs. Obama.
And the Award Went to...
For those who dreamed of walking down the red carpet at the Academy Awards dressed like a star, they enjoyed the next best thing at Hollywood Palms. Benefiting Variety, the Children’s Charity of Illinois, the Annual Academy Award Viewing Party at the new Hollywood Palms (352 S. Route 59, Naperville, IL) took place on Oscar night, Sunday, March 7th at 6 pm.
Festivities included:
- Red Carpet fashion, gossip and interviews
- The Academy Awards was on the BIG screen with Hollywood’s signature to- your-seat service
- Silent Auction items with premium gifts such as luxurious hotel stays, spa packages, restaurant gift cards and more!
- Grand Prize Winner will be flown with a guest to sunny Los Angeles, CA to attend one of the summer’s biggest movie premieres!
Over 150 people glammed up and enjoyed a champagne and appetizer reception and took home "swag bag" goodies and photo. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefited Variety.
