We were fortunate enough to interview the Manager of Royals Charity, Jonathan Rosa, to learn more about the incredible support the Kansas City Royals and Royals Charity provides for Variety KC!
What are ways that the Kansas City Royals and Royals Charity support Variety KC throughout the year?
We are so incredibly proud of our partnership with Variety KC. Our most recent grant allowed Variety to provide $25,000 of adaptive gym equipment to the Blue Valley School District, for which we were thrilled to be a part of the celebration at Lakewood Elementary School. Variety KC has also added to the inclusivity of Kauffman Stadium by donating universal changing tables which are now located in various areas of the ballpark.
What is your favorite part about supporting Variety KC?
It’s apparent how much Variety KC does, not just for the Kansas City Royals, but the entire Kansas City area. Being able to host Variety KC kiddos in various ways throughout the season provides not only a great source of inspiration, but motivation as well. No one brings more positive energy than the Variety KC family!
Any specific goals are things you are looking forward to with your support for Variety KC?
We both constantly strive to make Kansas City inclusive and accessible for all, which is an amazing mission to share. It’s impossible to make every change at once, but if we positively impact the life of even one child and make his or her life a tad bit easier, that’s a success and movement in the right direction.
Why would you recommend someone to become a supporter of Variety KC?
Simply because you can tell that they care and there is positive intent behind everything they do. I myself have Cerebral Palsy and walk with a walker – so, it’s always nice to see how far we’ve come and how far we will continue to go with the help and support from organizations like Variety KC!
Thank you to Jonathan for his time and for all that the Kansas City Royals and Royals Charities does for Variety KC! We look forward to all the fun to come as we continue our partnership to keep our #inclusionrevolution rolling and supporting ALL individuals with disabilities and their families. Go Royals!!
It is time to recognize some of the incredible individuals and companies that support Variety KC and allow us to do what we do. This week’s Donor Spotlight is Hy-Vee! Hy-Vee’s generous support allows Variety KC to fund adaptive equipment and communication devices for children, helps fund projects throughout our Kansas City community to continue our #InclusionRevolution and make KC the most inclusive city in the world, and Hy-Vee even works hard to make their own stores inclusive for people of all abilities. Read below to learn more about Hy-Vee’s wonderful support!
How long has Hy-Vee been a supporter of Variety KC?
Hy-Vee has been a longtime supporter of Variety KC – for several decades we have been honored to get to help in the mission of an inclusion revolution right here in Kansas City.
What are ways that Hy-Vee supports Variety KC throughout the year?
Adaptive Grocery Carts available at our locations for families to shop with ease
Variety “Think of Me” Parking signs in handicap stalls at our stores
Raising funds annually at our Golf Tournament – in it’s 22nd year the tournament brought in over $125,000 to support Variety’s mission
Annually sponsoring the Variety Show and being the sole caterer for the event
Surprising Families throughout the year with unique experiences to brighten their day – such as last year when we surprised Brinley and her family with a Chiefs VIP Game
Day Experience and a complimentary dinner at the Hy-Vee Market Grille!
Donating water bottles and other goodies to Variety KC events and celebrations
AND SO MUCH MORE!
What is your favorite part about supporting Variety KC?
Variety KC is such a remarkable organization that we love to support – being able to see how much growth in our decades-long partnership has been truly incredible. To see the impact you’re making firsthand on truly life changing ventures – like the first in the nation inclusive play zone at an airport to help families travel with ease – is such a special feeling! Variety KC is an incredible partner of ours as well, always including us in the opportunity to engage with the families and tangibly feel the impact we are making in the community.
Any specific goals are things you are looking forward to with your support for Variety KC?
Variety is breaking down barriers every single day and making Kansas City truly the most inclusive city in America – I can’t wait to see how that growth continues and the new milestones they achieve as they continue to shoot for the stars and do everything they can to help all kids be active, be social and belong.
Why would you recommend someone to become a supporter of Variety KC?
It’s a true partnership, with tangible effects. For us that is so important, we don’t want to simply write a check, we want to engage with our non profit partners and be hands on in our giving. Variety KC gives partners that exact opportunity – to meet the families, to watch and partake in the impacts that have been made from fundraising dollars, to truly be a part of something bigger than all of us. I would 100% recommend connecting with Variety KC to learn how YOU (and/or your company) can get involved with this incredible organization!
In February, Raymore’s T.B. Hanna Station, a park in the heart of the community, was
announced as the winner of the 2022 Public Works Project of the Year in the Small Cities/Rural
Communities Structures category at the Kansas City Metro American Public Works (APWA)
chapter level. The project has been submitted by the chapter to be considered for the national
award to be announced later this year.
Raymore Parks & Recreation Director Nathan Musteen and multiple staff members worked with
Cook Flatt & Strobel (CFS) Engineers, Unlimited Play and All-Inclusive Recreation to renovate
the three-acre park located at the site of the original Raymore train depot built in 1871.
The renovation was funded in part with a 2016 voter-approved No Tax Increase General
Obligation Bond, the City’s Park Fun and General Fund. Variety Children’s Charity of Greater
Kansas City (Variety KC) provided a $135,000 grant to upgrade the play spaces to be inclusive.
Featuring the Variety KC Inclusive Playground and Variety KC Inclusive Sprayground, T.B.
Hanna Station is the first park in the United States with two universally accessible play spaces
in the same location. In addition, T.B. Hanna Station is the first park in the state of Missouri to
feature a sprayground specifically designed to be fully accessible for people of all abilities.
The Variety KC Inclusive Sprayground includes a custom-designed train that is wide enough to
accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and other assistive devices. The sprayground features a flat
surface with overhead sprinklers, splash buckets, an LED light display and sound effects that
allow individuals of all abilities to play. The inclusive playground features accessible swings and
a climbing apparatus, zip lines, musical instruments and a merry-go-round. Communication
boards in each play area display illustrations to help children with limited language skills to
express themselves and communicate needs and wants.
The park also features The Depot, a covered pavilion with accessible picnic tables that
transforms into an ice skating rink in winter months, a concessions facility and two ADA private
restrooms with ADA benches that are open year-round.
Members of Raymore Parks & Recreation believe that a playground should not be a barrier to a
child, parent or caregiver with different abilities. The majority of playgrounds in the country are
inaccessible to people with disabilities, yet play is a critical part of the cognitive, physical and
social development of every child. Inclusive play environments eliminate social and physical
barriers and allow children with disabilities and able-bodied children to play together, promoting
understanding and new relationships. Inclusive playgrounds also allow parents and other adults
with disabilities to play with their children.
The park is constantly filled with residents and visitors from surrounding communities and even
from out of state.
Raymore resident Lindsay Vanzandt sharing the following message with the department:
“My son is just one kid who benefits when we have accessible playgrounds. When he doesn’t
have to expend energy on assessing the landscape and navigating uneven surfaces… when he
doesn’t get left behind because he can’t climb a ladder fast enough… when he can access
structures in a way that feels safe and easy for him… he gets to just PLAY! Raymore makes me
so proud… families like mine matter and aren’t an afterthought. I am so thankful for the focus
and passion in making Raymore as inclusive as possible.”
Another Raymore resident excitedly commented on social media regarding the grand opening of
T.B. Hanna Station and the Variety KC Inclusive Sprayground: “This is amazing!!! This grandma
in a wheelchair will be playing here with the grandsons!”
These messages are not only heartwarming, but reaffirm that the department’s vision is the right
vision for improving the quality of life of our residents and creating opportunities for people of all
abilities.
Raymore Parks & Recreation is making accessibility for people of all abilities a top priority in the
Raymore parks system. The city is on its way to becoming one of the first – if not the very first –
city in the United States to be home to three fully accessible inclusive play spaces, with the
addition of the Hawk’s Nest Inclusive Playground at Raymore’s Hawk Ridge Park later this year.
Raymore Parks & Recreation aspires to be an example to other parks and recreation
departments when it comes to incorporating inclusive elements into their communities.
Musteen recently presented on the award-winning T.B. Hanna Station project at the Missouri
Park & Recreation Association’s annual conference in Springfield, along with Todd Polk of CFS
Engineers and Natalie Mackay of Unlimited Play.
Our very own Deb Wiebrecht, Executive Director and Chief Inclusion Office of Variety KC, was featured in an article on IN Kansas City’s website this month!
“Bless Deborah Wiebrecht’s heart—she’s one of the hardest working women in philanthropy. Wiebrecht has been the executive director of Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City for nearly a decade. With a background in media sales, as on-air talent, and in special events, she says her role at Variety KC is a combination of what she’s learned in business and what she’s committed to in her heart—helping to assist children with disabilities.” – Michael Mackie of IN Kansas City
Macaroni Kid JoCo. publishes weekly, hyper-local e-newsletters and website articles featuring events, activities, products, and places for moms, kids, and families to visit. They also host local events and parties, and connect with communities via their rich and extensive social media channels! Each community is managed by a local Publisher Mom or Dad!
Variety KC was recently featured in Macaroni Kid’s Overland Park community newsletter, with over 10,000+ subscribers, and as a spotlight on their website! Read the full article here: All About Variety KC!
Overland Park Families – Make sure to check out Macaroni Kid’s local event section for a full list of, fun and safe, activities, and events to do with your family!
Days before the Super Bowl, Randi Mahomes, a friend of Variety KC and mother of Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes, surprised us in a Facebook post requesting her upcoming birthday gifts be gifted to Variety KC. She set a goal of $250.
Reposting the donation request on the Variety KC page, we quickly saw donations grow to $1,500. Fox 4’s Kathy Quinn jumped in and interviewed Randi…donations hit $3,000, $5,000, $7,000…and more!
As the excitement for the Super Bowl grew, so did the donations.
The night before the Chief’s Celebration parade, Randi Mahomes flew in KC and met up with Deborah Wiebrecht from Variety KC and Kathy Quinn of Fox 4 news. During the biggest time of her son’s career, Randi wanted to meet the kids she was helping, spend time with them and give them their requested gifts.
The story was so touching, Fox 4 didn’t want it to get lost in all the Chiefs related hoopla – and held the story to first air the next Thursday night, 10 pm news, during sweeps week. A time when viewership would be at its absolute highest.
The feedback was tremendous, Randi said it was the best birthday of her life. Her donation, along with a generous donation from The 15 and The Mahomies Foundation, provided inclusive gifts of mobility and communication for so many area kids, including adaptive equipment for the Variety KC inclusive playground at Hospital Hill.
1 in 6 children have a disability, and up to 15% of all kids in school have a sensory need. And that’s not all. Here’s a look at the rising costs of a disability:
$7,500
Average cost of medical equipment not covered by insurance
$10,400
Annual cost of occupational therapy after insurance
$250,000
Out-of-pocket cost to raise a special needs child to the age 18
$2,400,000
Lifetime cost to raise a child with an intellectual disability
Become a Variety Hero and get the FIRST edition Charlie Hustle Variety KC T-shirt!
To get a Charlie Hustle T-Shirt, you must donate a minimum of $15 per month, OR make a one-time donation of at least $150.
