May 13th, 2012

San Francisco, CA – As part of Variety’s annual Mother’s Day celebration efforts working with the Hamilton House, Variety will host nearly 50 children for a day of fun, games, and movies as their well-deserved mothers enjoy a spa day!

April 28, 2012

San Francisco, CA – Variety, in partnership with Ameriprise Financial and Rebuilding Together San Francisco, be part of a wonderful day to rehabilitate the home of a multi-generation family!

Help us raise $1,000 Saturday, Dec. 17th!

Join us from 6-9pm at Books, Inc. at Opera Plaza (601 Van Ness @ Golden Gate Ave.) for a Book Sale benefitting Variety Children’s Charity!

Come shop at the store while enjoying complimentary wine, coffee and tea from 6-9pm!  Variety gets 20% of all sales during this time period, including in-store sales, mail order, even ebook downloads!

December 4, 2011

San Francisco, CA – Variety’s annual Toys for Tots toy drive hosted by longtime patron, Gregg Lynn, yet again raised a record amount of toys, easily topping 1,650 toys collected.  The St. Regis Hotel again has graciously hosted this amazing event  and helped Variety to collect toys that will be distributed among our partner agencies, including the Blind Babies Foundation, Hamilton Family Services, Coalition on Homelessness, Oakes Childrens Center, Booker  T. Washington Community Services Center, Edgewood Children and Families Center, United Playaz, Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, Boys Hope Girls Hope, Boys and Girls Clubs of SF, Oakland and San Mateo, and more.

In the days that follow Variety’s volunteers will first sort the toys by gender and age range and then pick out specific toys for each of the intended recipients and deliver them onsite.

Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers that made this event possible, and congratulations to Gregg Lynn and his host committee, Geoffrey Applegarth, Brian Backus, Derek Barnes, Julie Candice, Chris Carnes ,John Caruso, John Crandon, David Dancer, Jason Dorn, Elizabeth Erhardt, Marc Freed Finnegan, Ellen Goodman, Arthur Goodrich, Christy Hannaford, Lance Holman, Tony Jenkins, David Kensington, Kevin Lemons, Tom Perrault, and Ken Smith!

Photos by Agency 94 Photography

December 3, 2011

San Francisco, CA – Variety is proud to announce the award of an adaptive bike to Celeste   Rubio, a very deserving young girl from California’s Central Valley, as part of the Variety national bike giveaway day!   Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California’s coverage spans from Bakersfield all the way North to Oregon border and includes parts of Northern Nevada and as such we are constantly striving to meet the needs of the countless deserving children across our coverage area.  The help we are providing to Celeste comes in the form of an adaptive bike, part of our Mobility Program, which will allow Celeste to gain independence from the confines of a wheelchair and to experience the childhood joy of riding a bike, while also helping to provide therapy to help aid in her medical condition.

Variety’s National Bike  Giveaway day is a  coordinated effort by the many tents of Variety to create a day of giving in which as many children as possible are awarded the medical equipment and mobility enabling devices they need.  This effort is also in partnership with the UN’s “Enable” program and is the first of many coordinated efforts by Variety’s many localized tents to provide aid as far and as wide as possible.

October 14, 2011

San Francisco, CA – Variety Children’s  Charity hosted over 300 children at the 2011 Grand National Rodeo, a tradition held at the historic Cow Palace since 1941.  This wonderful event, put on in partnership with the Ma Squad and the Cow Palace manager Seth Doulton, provided many of the children with their very first exposure to animals such as cows, horses, bulls and the tradition of a rodeo.

A special pre-show event was organized by the Cow Palace allowing children hands-on time with show horses and performers, as well as time down in the ring with real cowboys and activity stations for lassoing, riding bucking broncos, corralling, and more!

This extraordinary event would never have been possible without the proactive and generous work done by Seth Doulton of the Cow Palace and we look forward to providing this memorable experience to children again next year.

August 28, 2011

San Francisco, CA – Variety has place 5 specially-built therapy bikes within local Medical Therapy Units (MTU’s), the local school and therapy centers run by local counties and California Children’s Services and public school systems.   The MTU’s, which receive a total annual equipment budget of just $1,500, desperately need modern and advanced equipment to serve the ever-growing constituencies of disabled children in need of support.  By placing these bikes within the MTU’s Variety has enabled hundreds of children to experience a better level of care and ongoing therapy.

August 14, 2011

San Francisco, CA – Variety, partnering with one of our valued community champions and long time supporter, Steve Indig, hosted a birthday celebration for recently fallen San Francisco Firefighter, Tony Valerio.   The event, which raised money for the children Variety serves, was attended by over 50 family friends and members of Tony’s former San Francisco Fire Department station house and was a wonderful and heartfelt celebration of a deeply missed outstanding member of the San Francisco community.

Thank you to all who attended and best wishes to Tony’s family and fellow firefighters.

June 8, 2011

San Francisco, CA – Variety’s Mobility Program has granted a much-needed adaptive bike to Cameron  Honey, a Bay Area boy limited in his ability to exercise and to experience autonomy from his braces and wheelchair.

Through the Variety Mobility Program, Cameron now has a specially designed bike adapted to his specific medical condition and body mechanics.  Cameron presents a special case because this marks the second time he and his family have applied to Variety.  The first application had to be put on hold after Cameron had to undergo surgery a few years ago, however, fortunately, Cameron is now enjoying the autonomy from a wheelchair that his bike provides and is able to exercise his otherwise atrophied muscles.

May 8, 2011

This Mother’s  Day the Variety @ Work program helped provide a much deserved respite to the mothers of the Hamilton Family Center, one of Variety’s local partner agencies, by hosting a screening of Toy Story 3 in the Variety Preview Room, including providing snacks, arts and crafts and a gift bag to the program’s children while the mothers were able to enjoy a Spa Day.

Providing both disabled and disadvantaged children with opportunities to live a happy normal life is a core tenet of Variety’s mission.  Providing a trip to movies may seem like a simple act, but it is one which can help a child escape the woes of the streets and enable to just be a kid!

March 29, 2010

San Francisco, CA – The Variety Board of Directors unanimously approved funding of thousands of dollars for scholarships to underwrite Camp Bennett, a San Francisco based camp using Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), serving children who have suffered from in utero or pediatric strokes.

The children of Camp Bennett primarily suffer from damage done to that brain can result in weakness on one side of the body, trouble with speech and vision, and cognitive problems.  The CIMT technique, in which the unaffected upper limb is casted to prevent use, forces the affected (weak) limb to worked. This is the second year we are holding this camp. Last year every child demonstrated improvement, and most had “significant improvement” in their ability to functionally use their weak limb.

March 16, 2011

San Francisco, CA – Supporting the Blind Babies Foundation, a wonderfully successful organization helping children and families struggling with vision impairment issues that is a child organization of our very own organization, Variety Children’s  Charity of Northern California, is a part of our mission that continues to bear fruit.  The beeper egg hunt, held at Midtown Terrace Park in San Francisco, uses synthetic eggs implanted with an electronic beeping device and provides the ideal setting for children to experience the childhood joy of celebrating the Easter Bunny and to participate in an egg hunt.  This year Variety provided numerous volunteers as well as gift bags and stuffed animals to each of the participants and their families.

January 11, 2011

San Francisco,  CA – Variety  Childrens Charity proudly participated in the Volunteer Center’s annual Board Match event.  The event, which took place at the San Francisco Moscone Center, hosted over 1,000 people and was a wonderful success.  Variety drew interest from numerous qualified candidates and has accepted two new outstanding board members to our team of talented and caring members.

December 12, 2010

San Francisco, CA – Celebrating Variety’s successful sister organization, the Blind Babies Foundation, has been an important yearly milestone since the Blind Babies Foundation (BBF) was spunoff of one of our own programs all the way back in 1949.  Despite a handful of missed years, we are proud to celebrate what is now the 55^th annual Variety-BBF Holiday Party.

As in years past, this year’s party was hosted at the Variety Screening Room and featured hands-on tactile games and crafts for nearly 75 sight-impaired children and their families.

August 10, 2010

San Francisco, CA – Over 1,200 racers following scavenger hunt treasure maps rushed throughout the City of San Francisco to compete in the 2010 Great Urban Race.   Variety’s Screening Room, chosen as one of the stops , was graced with the presence of all 1,200 excited racers who came bearing school supply donations as a means of achieving their token, the Variety Gold Heart!

June 30, 2010

San Francisco, CA – Hosted at the historic Palace Hotel, Variety’s annual gala event was themed “Great Gatsby” and was attended by hundreds of guests, local business leaders and charitable partners.

Sponsored by ClearChannel, Francis Ford Coppola Winery and more, this glamorous evening has helped raise funds to continue our Mobility Program!

As the night wore on, patrons enjoyed passed hors devours and treats from local vendors such as Carrolls Meats, a hosted bar, a costume contest,  and a wonderful night of dancing and excitement thanks to a performance by “Pride & Joy.”

May 1, 2010

San Francisco, CA – Variety, as one of approximately 30 organizations supporting Access to Adventure, hosted a hands-on booth and exhibit at the annual fair held in Golden Gate Park’s museum concourse.   This all-day event garnered attention from hundreds of families seeking assistance and continues to be an excellent avenue for help to the Bay Area’s many children in need of mobility assistance.

April 30, 2010

San Francisco, CA – The Variety @ Work program received a huge boost and put smiles on the face of 50 children who’s family’s are helped by our partner agency, the Coalition on Homelessness.  As part of this great evening, Variety hosted snacks and a free trip to the Variety Screening Room to see a recent movie, a true treat for these youngsters!

Providing both disabled and disadvantaged children with opportunities to live a happy normal life is a core tenet of Variety’s mission.  Providing a trip to movies may seem like a simple act, but it is one which can help a child escape the woes of the streets and enable to just be a kid!

April 24, 2010

San Francisco, CA – Variety Children’s Charity sponsored and hosted a team-building Bike Build event for the benefit of 100 deserving children identified by the Coalition for Homelessness.  Each child, whom has never had their own bike, received a bike built just for them, complete with a helmet and lock.  Safety and instruction clinics run by the SFPD and SF Bicycle Coalition provided hands-on training and the San Francisco Rotary Club provided volunteers!

April 23, 2010

San Francisco, CA – Variety Children’s Charity sent over 100 children to see the famous Harlem Globetrotters.

In partnership with our generous sponsors, Variety provided free tickets to children supported by our partner agencies, Booker T Washington, Boys & Girls Club of the Mid Peninsula, and Edgewood Families and Children Center, to see the world famous Harlem Globetrotters, a one of a kind experience!

Providing both disabled and disadvantaged children with opportunities to live a happy normal life is a core tenet of Variety’s mission and the smiles and inspiration provided by the high-flying awe-inspiring Globetrotters proved we have accomplished just that!