Variety the Children's Charity of North Texas
For the Kids eNews 
April 2008
In This Issue
* Kicking it Off in Style
* Nim's Island
* Valentine's at Notre Dame
Quick Links
 
Ways to Help
* Start Your Own Gold Hearts Collection Today
* Cinema Passports = Free Films for a Year
Kicking it Off in Style
Grant & Tess  March 14th marked the start of Cinemark USA's 2008 Gold Heart's program benefiting Variety programs across the country.   
  And, they did it in style.
  To mark the start of the 2008 program, which helps fund Variety programs all across the country, Variety presented two deserving families with much needed devices through the North Texas Heart of Variety Fund.
  Three-year-old Rockwall resident Grant Ballard was presented with a new wheelchair, while five-year-old Plano resident Tess Gregorek's family was provided assistance in modifying their van to accomodate Tess's new wheelchair.
  In addition to the assistance, Variety provided each child with age appropriate toys that had been donated by the Dallas Alumni Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta.
  Cinemark's Gold Hearts program will run through May 1. Be sure to get your $2 pin the next time you visit a Cinemark Theatre.
  For photos of the event, please click here.
Nim's Island
Nim's Island Tales Movie  A special screening of Nim's Island will take place Saturday, April 4 for families raising children with special needs. As with all the films in our Special Needs Screening Series, special needs children and their siblings are free-of-charge.  Adults pay the standard ticket price.
  And don't forget, the series now takes place at four area Studio Movie Grill locations (Arlington, Dallas, Lewisville and Plano).
  Click here for details about the Nim's Island screening.
  Click here for a story from The Dallas Morning News about the program itself and here what other parents are saying.
The Holidays at Variety
Notre Dame Children  Variety was honored to be able to present the more than 100 children and staff of Notre Dame School in Dallas with a very special Valentine's. Through the generous support of The Donachie Foundation, On Board Xpress, Inc., and Nestle USA; Variety presented each child with a commemorative t-shirt and a goodie bag.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.  So, why not see some for yourself. 
  In addition to our Valentine's Day event, Variety also hosted a special Easter screening of Horton Hears a Who as part of our Special Needs Screening Series.  300 special needs children and their families took part in this program which included a t-shirt, screening of the film and a special holiday suprise. 
WOMPI Hot Dog Luncheon
Please note that the WOMPI Hot Dog Luncheon mentioned in last month's e-mail will actually being at 11:00am on Wednesday, May 7th.  For more information, please visit the WOMPI page on Variety's website.
Variety has been promoting and protecting the health and well-being of children all across North Texas for more than 70 years.