Category: News
Big Impact from Community Initiatives
MADabolic Gym Members Sponsor Adaptive Bikes
In August, MADabolic Strip District owner, Jesse Holloway hosted a month-long fundraising campaign with gym member, Shayna Zayac, who is the Co-Chair of Variety’s Movement Board! Jesse and Shayna pushed the fundraiser throughout August. Altogether, the gym members collectively raised more than $5,000 to sponsor two adaptive bikes, which we presented on Monday at MADabolic!
More Than $34,000 Raised by Reason-to-Ride
October 6th was absolutely remarkable at Z&M Harley-Davidson as we presented 12 adaptive bikes and 2 adaptive strollers to local kids and families – all made possible by Z&M’s 9th Annual Z&M Reason-To-Ride Fundraising Event.
To get a feel for all the joy, check out this video of the bike parade!
This year was a big success with a crowd of 650+ supporters and an incredible $34,250 raised to support Variety, and our friends from TribLive even attended to capture the joy of the day.
After the bike presentation, new bike recipients, Felicity and Tanner, as well as Variety Ambassador, Jacob joyfully challenged Z&M’s Dax to a race that was full of fun and freedom! As you’ll guess, Dax lost every race, but he lost with a smile and fist-bumps!
Click here or the photo below to watch their race!
$15,000 Raised By Client Appreciation Event
On September 24th, we presented several adaptive bikes with the incredible Leonard Advisory Group team at their 10th Annual Client Appreciation Event! As the Charity Partner for this year’s event, the Leonard Advisory team and their generous community raised enough funds to sponsor 6 adaptive bikes ($15,000) – including those presented at the event, where supporters tangibly saw the impact of their donations!
The Leonard Advisory Group created an awesome recap video that you can watch by clicking here!
An Annual Tradition of Joy for Guardian Employees
Guardian Protection continued their annual tradition of hosting a bike giveaway, and this year, they or celebrated 4-year-old Michael, who received his new adaptive bike on September 24th. As always, the Guardian team were amazing hosts and organized the equivalent of a pep rally to honor Michael and his family. Over recent years the team at Guardian has provided over $24,000 in funds for Variety and have presented 12 adaptive bikes. This was also the second time in which the recipient (Michael) was the child of a Guardian Protection employee, which made it even more special!
Presentation with Janney at Historic Summit Inn
In partnership with the Uniontown Office of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, we presented 5 adaptive bikes and 5 adaptive strollers to local kids and families at the end of August! The Janney team had been running a summer long fundraiser to cover the costs of a few of the bikes and strollers that we presented, and will continue for the rest of the year. Read more in this article from The Daily Courier!
Are you interested in organizing a fundraiser? Variety is in critical need of support to fund adaptive bikes and strollers that are ready to be presented – we simply need the funding. Please reach out if you, your employer, or community group are interested in helping us fund equipment for kids that are ready to receive it now.
WICKED Gold Hearts Pins
WICKED Gold Heart Pins Are Now Available!
Variety – the Children’s Charity is THRILLED to partner with Universal Pictures to create two limited-edition gold heart pins featuring characters Glinda and Elphaba from the spectacular new cinematic event, WICKED, in theatres on November 22nd!
Proceeds from the pins sold benefit local Variety programs that provide life-changing equipment, services and experiences to children who live with special needs or endure daily life challenges. The limited-edition collector’s pins are now exclusively available for a minimum donation of $3.00 in movie theatres throughout the U.S. while supplies last, and a full list of participating locations can be found by clicking here.
Excitingly, one of our very own Variety kids out of Wisconsin, Marrisa Bode, is playing Nessarose in the upcoming film! Variety of Wisconsin granted a vehicle modification for Marissa and her family in 2013, and we are so proud of her! Here is a short video featuring Marrisa promoting the Wicked film!
Three-Thousand Reasons to Smile
BIKE #3,000 given to Jude on PITTSBURGH TODAY LIVE!
There was a lot to celebrate last Thursday, as we presented adaptive bike #3,000 to JUDE & #3,001 to PAISLEY, and hit one historic milestone for the My Bike® Program!
Even more special, we got to present the history-making bikes alongside our My Bike founding sponsor, Highmark and our incredible mobility partners, Blackburn’s – both of whom have been instrumental to our impact!
Paisley’s joy was a stand-out as she “honked” along riding her new bike for the first time, and you can watch the short video by clicking here.
When Variety kicked off My Bike in 2012, we hoped to sponsor 100 adaptive bikes, so it means the world that we have now surpassed 3,000 bikes (worth more than $5.5 million) thanks to the ongoing support of so many!
Don’t miss enjoying ALL the joy and impact from Thursday:
- Pittsburgh Today Live highlights official presentation of Bike #3,000 to Jude LIVE
- KDKA and KidsBurgh – presenting Bikes #3,000 and #3,001 and reach historic milestone
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Goodness section) – Children take spin on bikes no. 3,000 & 3,001
Now, there are 3,001 Reasons to Smile!
But, receiving an adaptive bike is only the beginning…
After receiving his new bike, Jude’s mom, Megan kindly sent us the above photo and a beautiful message of joy, “Just wanted to share a picture of Jude on his first ride in the neighborhood with his brothers!”
A Decade of Riding Adaptive Bikes in the Labor Day Parade!
Core Pediatric Dentistry Sponsor Josephine’s Stroller!
We were SO grateful to Core Pediatric Dentistry for their generous sponsorship of Josephine’s new adaptive stroller!
Her mom, Courtney explained how much it means, “Josephine elopes and wanders, so she has to be in a stroller to stay safe. She also has trouble walking long distances, so a stroller helps her get around. The adaptive stroller will help us in scenarios where the wagon we typically use for her is too big. We are planning a trip to Disney World and want to make sure that the stroller we have for her will be the most comfortable and safe.”
Cole & His Communication Device
Less than a year after receiving his own communication device, Cole’s mom, Michele shared these photos and an update to celebrate!
“Cole has been doing amazingly well with his communication device, and it has opened new opportunities for him to communicate in school with his peers and teachers!
I wanted to share some pictures of Cole using his device in school.On Fridays, his class gets to participate in pushing around the coffee cart offering refreshments to the staff. We uploaded items to his device that match what they do with the cart.
AND NOW, he’s able to go around pushing the cart and communicating with everyone he encounters! He is so proud of himself and it helps to give him the inclusion he deserves.
His speech has also been improving since using the device. I want to send a huge thank to all involved with donating the devices and let them know that it does make a huge difference in our kids’ lives.Recently, his classmates were very excited that Cole could tell them Happy Valentine’s Day, and it brought so much joy to them all!“
Thanks to Variety’s My Voice Program, Cole has a voice to participate and express himself at all times!
Variety’s New CEO & More Smiles to Come
Thank you!
Truly, thank you for helping to make the last twelve-years full of hope and life-changing impact for kids with disabilities and their families.
It has been a privilege to serve as Variety’s CEO and be a helper with you.
Since 2012, we’ve provided nearly 7,000 adaptive bikes, adaptive strollers, and communication devices to kids (worth more than $10.4 million in equipment).
With the equipment, parents tell us that kids have gotten to ride bikes with their siblings for the first time, gotten to go out into the community safely with their families, and even, gotten to tell their parents, I love you… all because of the community’s support.
Variety is thrilled to announce Tom Baker as our newest CEO! The attached press release gives more details, but we’re incredibly grateful to welcome Tom to the team. He is going to lead Variety into a new era of impact!
As we finish up another extraordinary year, I hope you’ll pause to smile and celebrate ALL the kids and families we’ve helped, together.
Be on the lookout for even more smiles in 2024 from Director of Communications, Zach Marsh, as Variety kicks off the new year with a handful of presentations!
Once again, thank you so much for being a part of Variety’s work, where IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS!
Happy New Year,
Charlie
P.S. One more reason to smile…
5-year-old, James received his own communication device in July, and then at the end of September, we received this joyful message from his Speech Language Pathologist, Stephanie, “James received his communication device this summer, and I did programming and worked with the family… Fortunately, this student is now verbally fluent! It is like something just clicked! Thank you so much! This program is amazing!”
Charles P. LaVallee
Chief Executive Officer
Variety – the Children’s Charity
My Holiday Hope & Owen’s Joy!
With it being my last holiday season as your Chief ‘Excitement’ Officer, I hope you’ll consider an end-of-year donation to celebrate all the impact we’ve created together over many years.
Community support has been critical to the success of our programs, which are truly changing the lives of kids with disabilities and their families for the better.
Since 2012, Variety has presented more than 6,900 adaptive bikes, adaptive strollers, and communication devices (worth more than $10.4 million in equipment) – thanks to incredible community supporters.
If you’re able, you can give a donation online at www.varietypittsburgh.org/donate, or can use this donation form to mail in a donation — truly, any amount makes such a difference.
As a special thanks, I wanted to share a photo of Owen, who used his communication device to visit with Santa Claus a few weeks ago!
Owen’s mom, Danielle shared with joy, “Owen has been doing amazing with his communication device. It’s been life changing! We just got out Santa pictures and I had to share this with you. Thank you for everything!”
Thanks for being a part of Variety’s work, where IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS!
Take good care,
Charlie
Charles P. LaVallee
Chief Executive Officer
Variety – the Children’s Charity
You Just Never Know
An easy way to support Variety 365 days a year is by simply talking about what we’re doing with those you know or meet.
What I’ve found is that you just never know the difference you’ll make by bringing up and sharing Varety’s programs with those in the community.
Some recent examples of “You Just Never Know” conversations in the community:
- Earlier this month, we joined Al Todd and Al’s Bike Drive for their celebratory banquet at Wildwood Country Club – wrapping up their 2023 campaign. There, I got to speak with a staff member at the Club, and it turns out, they have a grandchild who is nonverbal and might benefit from a communication device and they planned to follow-up immediately.
- When I was interviewed in October for this article in the Trib, I met with the reporter, Natalie in-person. We ended up talking 2 to 3 hours, as I quikcly came to learn that her daughter, Penelope has autism and is nonverbal. Natalie never heard about Variety’s programs before our meeting.
Coming full circle, Penelope was fit for her own adaptive bike at Wildwood as part of the banquet for Al’s Bike Drive. Natalie and Penelope will join us in January to receive her new bike at Covestro!
Penelope is also in-process to receive a communication device as well!
- Two weeks ago, I was talking to another woman in the community, and her son is dating a girl whose sister is nonverbal. After learning about our My Voice® Program, this mom and her son planned to share our program information in hopes that the child could benefit.
- A few months ago, I picked up lunch in Wexford, and at the time, I was wearing a vest with Variety’s logo on it. The woman helping me saw Variety and said, “My child’s therapist just suggested we apply to Variety for an adaptive stroller, as my daughter is an eloper.” So, I got to explain the impact we’ve heard from other families and encourage her to apply.
Maybe 2024 can be the “You Just Never Know” campaign to identify even more kids throughout our service area and ensure every family knows that our programs exist.
Here’s a special photo of Penelope from her bike fitting! What was so meaningful is how calm she became once she got onto the bike. She loved it so much, she stayed on it through the banquet’s lunch.
Thanks for everything you do to share Variety’s mission because you just never know whose child you’ll help get equipment (feel free to utilize our program handout and list of barriers to reach kids in your community).
Take good care,
Charlie
Charles P. LaVallee
Chief Executive Officer
Variety – the Children’s Charity
Liam’s Summer Adventures w/ Adaptive Stroller!
“I wanted to make sure that we shared how absolutely life-changing Liam’s adaptive stroller has been for our family, and I wanted to share photos from our adventures this summer!
The stroller has opened up opportunities for us that I hadn’t even anticipated… We have been able to go on outings as family and feel secure in the fact that Liam is safe and comfortable.
We are now able to eat at restaurants as a family, go on walks as a family, and Liam EVEN went fishing for the first time in his life because of his stroller!
Most people don’t consider the isolation that special needs families go through, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for improving not only Liam’s life, but mine too.
From Liam and our entire family, we thank you!!”
KDKA News Highlights Elopement & Impact of Stroller
In terms of having an immediate impact on a child’s life, and the lives of their whole family, an adaptive stroller has been critical, especially for kids with elopement issues.
However, the need for this equipment, as well as the impact it can have are invisible to the majority of us – e.g. this isn’t your typical toddler stroller.
Don’t miss this transformative news story by KDKA’s Kristine Sorensen that features Kristin, mother of Kolton, who intimately shares the impact of an adaptive stroller with us all.
Pittsburgh-area family credits charity with life-changing device – click the link to watch and share.
The story also features Dr. Alan Kohrt, former Board Member, American Academy of Pediatrics, who provided striking data and expertise on kids with elopement issues (see below).
Thank you for being a part of the Variety community, where IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS!
P.S. You can help us spread the word that My Stroller exists by sharing this story with your network – https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/variety-the-childrens-charity-pittsburgh-life-changing-devices/