Variety of Illinois
Variety - the Childern's Charity is an enthusiastic group of business leaders who donate their time, resources and energy to positiely impact the lives of childern in their own communities, and around the world.
VARIETY OF ILLINOIS PRESS RELEASES
WHITE SOX AND BEARS TO HOST SPORTS CAMPS FOR DISABLED KIDS,
JULY 30 & 31
"Presented by Variety Children’s Charity of Illinois"
Chicago, IL (June, 2010) – When the beautiful weather rolls into Chicago, it can only mean one thing...It's time for the kids to come out and play! Variety Children’s Charity of Illinois and the National Sports Center for the Disabled are once again hosting FREE, public sports camps for children (ages 6-18) with disabilities, either physical or developmental. The one-day camps include instruction and skill development, use of equipment, games, prizes and possible appearances by players and coaches.
To view a fun video of the 2009 camps, visit: Variety's Believin' - in Sports Mobility
Chicago White Sox Camp
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Location:
Miracle Field at Mt. Greenwood Park
3724 W. 111th St.
Chicago, IL 60655
Chicago Bears Camp
Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010
Time: 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Location:
Bears Training Camp
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
*The Chicago Bears have also invited the sports camp (kids, parents, siblings, etc) to stay and watch practice directly following the camp (includes privileged seating).
“Some of life’s most memorable experiences involve sports,” says Michelle Baert, president of Variety of Illinois. “All children deserve the ability to lead full and active lives.” As such, Variety’s signature program, Kids on the Go, gives kids with disabilities the access they require to experience sports firsthand by raising funds to purchase and donate sports mobility equipment.
For more information or to register for a camp(s), visit: National Sports Center for the Disabled . To volunteer to help at a camp(s), email jannapenhale@gmail.com.
About NSCD
The National Sports Center for the Disabled is one of the largest therapeutic recreation organizations in the world. Each year thousands of individuals with disabilities take to the ski slopes, mountain trails, and sports fields to learn more about sports and themselves. With specially trained staff and its own adaptive equipment lab, the NSCD teaches a variety of winter and summer sports to individuals with almost any mental or physical disability. For more information on the NSCD, please visit www.nscd.org.
About Variety
Variety – The Children’s Charity is a multi-million dollar philanthropic organization with locations throughout the United States. Starting with a baby left on the doorsteps of a movie theatre in 1928, Variety has continued to be a group of local business men and women, many of whom hail from the theatre and movie business, reaching out to children in need. Today, through the efforts of Variety’s enthusiastic volunteers and generous corporate contributors, the organization remains true to its heritage by bringing children real, tangible help. For more information on the Illinois Tent, which was formed in 1944, please visit www.varietyofillinois.org or call 312-822-0660.
VARIETY - THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY OF ILLINOIS LAUNCHES ANNUAL GOLD HEART PIN CAMPAIGN
"Support Children in Need by Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve"
Chicago, IL (December, 2009) - Variety - The Children's Charity of Illinois' signature fundraising initiative, the annual Gold Heart Pin Drive, aims to help children in need by asking people to literally wear their heart on their sleeve. Running from Thanksgiving through Valentine's Day, this year's Gold Heart Pin is adorned with everyone's favorite amphibian, Kermit the Frog. To send a Variety e-card from Kermit himself, or to view a personal message about the campaign from Variety friend, Whoopi Goldberg, go to http://varietyecard.org/.
Sold for $2 at area movie theatres, the Gold Heart pins are collected and worn by millions of people around the world as symbols of their support for Variety and the children who are helped by Variety funded programs and facilities. The Gold Heart Pin campaign is one of Variety's most recognized and successful global fundraising programs (Variety has 54 chapters in 13 countries - all of which participate in the Drive). The program was created in 1991 in Great Britain by a Variety International board member, who thought to create gold pins in the shape of hearts to raise funds to assist children in need.
For the past seven years, Variety has launched a partnership with the motion picture industry to design and market the Gold Heart pins around Hollywood movie properties. Each year, Variety partners with a major motion picture studio to design a new Gold Heart pin around a movie or a movie character from that studio. Gold Heart pins with tie-ins to universally recognized characters Mickey Mouse, E.T. , Shrek , and Spider-Man have helped raise awareness of Variety's work and have generated millions of dollars for children in need. More than 2,000 theatres around the United States sell the pins and display promotional posters, counter cards, in-theatre slides, film trailers and other materials. This partnership between Variety and the motion picture industry has raised $95 million dollars worldwide to date.
GRANTING GIFT OF SPORT TO DISABLED SCHOOL CHILDREN
CHICAGO, IL (September 2009) Variety Children's Charity of Illinois presented two Chicago Public Schools with grants in amount of $5000 each this month to assist them in obtaining adaptive sports equipment for students with disabilities (a photo of the check presentation is available for release upon request). Blair Early Childhood Center (6751 W. 63rd Place) will use the grant money to acquire updated adaptive sports equipment for physical therapy and Christopher School (5042 S. Artesian) will use it to resurrect its adaptive sports programs.
We are thrilled that Variety of Illinois selected Blair, said Principal Karen Bryar. We are celebrating our 25th anniversary next month and much of our adaptive sports equipment is original and broken down. With new adaptive bikes ranging from $1800 to $3000, Bryar admits the old ones have been extremely difficult to replace.
Rather than identifying a few children to donate adaptive sports equipment to, Variety chose schools because the funds will be used to purchase communal PE equipment. This way, every child in the building can benefit from the use of new adaptive bikes, trikes and sport chairs, adds Bryar. Blair services about 150 students between ages of 3 to 6, all of whom have disabilities "either physical or cognitive. Christopher School services children grades 1st to 8th. The school has approximately 250 students of which the majority has disabilities.
A NEW CHAPTER IN VARIETY'S HISTORY
The Incoming Board of Directors Lead the Way
Like no other in recent memory, 2008 was a memorable year in Illinois, and not just for the politicians making headlines.
The 2008/09 Variety of Illinois Board Executive Officers' induction, held at the 2008 Annual Meeting on November 19, 2008 at Marcello's Italian Restaurant near downtown Chicago, represents a continual shaping of Variety of Illinois's growth. Chairperson of the 2008/09 board, Nick Liberati, said, With the addition of several new board members, and continued board development, the diversity of experience and background of the group will fuel the growth of Tent 26 into the coming year."
As Tent 26, which began in 1944, moves into another busy and productive year, the board represents a renewed dedication to expanding Variety's programs and services for Chicago-area children. Executive officers include Chairperson, Nick Liberati; Board President, Michelle Baert; Vice President, Amy Key; Second Vice President, Linda Mastandrea; Third Vice President, John Stephens; Treasurer, Mayo Walcott; Secretary, John Bosca. The executive officers' oath included the spirited praise of long-time Variety member Ed Jablonski who spoke of board members' dedicated vision to serving Chicago-area children. Board leadership in Variety of Illinois will continue to build lasting relationships through its programs and services in Illinois.
Liberty Swing Brings Smiles to America’s Children
America’s first Liberty Swing was unveiled and dedicated to Swann Special Care Center, which cares for children and adults with profound mental and physical disabilities, in Champaign, IL on June 30, 2006. The simple act of swinging through the air, something most children take for granted, overjoyed young residents of the Swann Center during a memorable dedication ceremony as they tested the new swing made especially for the disabled. Designed in Australia by Wayne Devine, the Liberty Swing accommodates children in wheelchairs or those unable to use a conventional swing.
Variety of Illinois purchased the Swing three years ago when it hosted the international convention in Chicago and they chose the Swann Center as the first site in the western hemisphere to get one! The original Liberty Swing opened in Australia in 2001 and now there are 130 Swings throughout Australia and New Zealand and one in the United Kingdom. In keeping with Variety’s international reach, parents of Swann Center’s residents will be given keys that allow them to use any Liberty Swing around the world. As he waited for his turn, Swann Center’s own Randy Cockrell could barely contain his excitement. “Yay!” he shouted, laughing, as he rolled up to the Swing. After being buckled in, Randy grabbed one of the bars, threw his head back and shouted “Whee!” Thereafter, all of Randy’s berty friends were equally as thrilled once they too had their first ride! Tent 26 president Nick Liberati exalts, “Nothing makes our children smile more than swinging through the air!”
Watch YouTube Video
ABOUT VARIETY OF ILLINOIS:
It's Variety's belief that every child deserves access to lead a full and active life "on and off the playing field. Dedicated to promoting and protecting the health and well-being of children in need, Variety implements an array of programs such as Kids on the Go, which provides adaptive sports equipment that insurance won't cover and exorbitant costs exceed families' means. Through the efforts of enthusiastic volunteers, generous corporate contributors and various fundraising endeavors, Variety remains true to its 80-plus year heritage by bringing children real, tangible help.
Media Contact: Jody B. Grimaldi | 630/470-0044 | jodybgrimaldi@aol.com
