With more than 20 years in association and non-profit management, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an operation run as well as the Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City.
The Board of directors, has an excitement about the group that’s contagious to everyone they comes in contact with. Their passion about those helped by the group and the “out of the box” fundraising ideas help to keep volunteers engaged.
-Lonnie
Dear Variety,
I’ve had the awesome opportunity of working with Variety for the last 2 years and my experiences have been nothing but truly rewarding. As a volunteer, supporter, and events committee member, I have seen first-hand what this amazing charity does for our community and the amazing kids that it includes. Variety truly cares about the families they support. I get excited and more motivated each and every time I attend an event, knowing that I am part of this inspirational organization. Every face you see connected to Variety are truly the best people you will ever get to know. LOVE LOVE LOVE Variety!!!
-Beth
Dear Variety,
My son Sam is 11 years old and has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He has been in a wheelchair since he was about 5. About 3 years ago, it became time to look into a new wheelchair for Sam, one with a lot more functionality than the basic one that he had at the time. It was important to us that we find ways to promote his independence as best we could, and getting the right wheelchair with all of the right functions was the key to that.
Once all the approvals and ordering and all were done, we were left trying to figure out how we were going to pay for the out-of-pocket expense that we would be responsible for when buying this particular wheelchair. As anyone who has every purchased a power wheelchair knows, they are quite expensive, and even with great insurance, having a 10% or 20% co-insurance due really adds up.
I was told that Variety Children’s Charity provided some resources and funding to help with the purchase of mobility equipment for kids, and was put into contact with Deb. Their group of young volunteers managed to raise the funds to help us pay for the out-of-pocket expense that we owed. Sam loved his new wheelchair and we got the peace of mind of not having to worry about the cost aspect of it all. Deb and Variety planned a big event when they did the official presentation of the check. It was a baseball themed function, since Sam is a big baseball fan. We met at a local high school baseball field, and were met by many of the Variety team and some local team mascots who played baseball with Sam and his brothers. There were news people there to interview us and to video the event for the news, which made Sam feel really special! It was a very cool thing. Since then, we have been invited to many Variety fundraising events where we have met a lot of special people.
This is a great organization, and we are proud to consider ourselves part of the Variety family!
-Amy
Dear Variety,
My daughter was born with Spinal Bifida and is wheelchair bound. I recently received a call from my school nurse letting me know that the Shawnee Mission CCC Club at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School had raised some money. I then talked with Deborah from Variety KC and they decided that they wanted to help the high school find a student in the district to help, and they picked my daughter.
After they notified me of this fantastic news, we got to choose a hand cycle to purchase for my daughter so she can ride bikes with her family and friends. The school raised half of the funds and the charity came up with the rest.
We then had an event to show my daughter her new bicycle during recess at her school in front of the entire 1st grade class. Deborah and Variety made the event so much fun for everyone, they even brought books and stuffed Owls and Rabbits for each child at the event as well. It was very inspirational and my daughter and our family will forever be grateful to Shawnee Mission CCC Club and Variety KC for their hard work and kind hearts.
Great organization that I would recommend to anyone who has a child with special needs. Variety cares!!
-Angie
Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City has an impact for so many families in the Kansas City area. Our daughter Catie as well as our family have been blessed by Variety Children’s Charity with the donation of an adaptive tricycle and orthotics. Catie has four siblings so mobility is vital in her world. The adaptive tricycle allowed Catie to ride beside her brothers and sisters. The orthotics have given Catie the strength to begin to learn to run. Variety Children’s Charity gave Catie the gift of being “just one of the kids”.
Additionally, Variety Children’s Charity has benefited our family by allowing us to meet a number of incredible giving individuals and families. Variety kids have given our family the gift of perspective. Variety kids cherish each day and value each moment. Their smiles and laughter are infectious to the soul.
Thank you Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City for blessing Catie with the gift of movement and blessing our family with your impact in the lives of kids with special abilities.
-Cathleen