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| Major Announcement Concerning
Variety the Children's Charity of Houston |
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(a.k.a. Variety Club of Houston - Tent 34) |
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| Dear Variety Supporter:
As a previous supporter, volunteer and/or all around friend to Variety in the Houston area; we wanted to ensure you were aware of some recent changes that have taken place within the organization.
In order to better serve the children in the Houston area by taking advantage of certain "economies of scale" and other cost saving measures, Variety the Children's Charity of Houston has disbanded and forwarded its remaining assests to Variety the Children's Charity of North Texas. Thus creating Variety the Children's Charity of Texas.
Variety the Children's Charity of North Texas will maintain their 501(c)3 and is in the process of effectively changing their name. At this time, the new entity is Variety Club of Texas - Tent 17 with the federal EIN (i.e. tax exemption number) 75-0630233. All donations are still tax-exempt to the fullest extent of the law.
This is no way, means that children within the Houston area will no longer be served by Variety programs. In fact, it means that Variety can now focus more on the needs of Houston area children and their families. |
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All funds acquired have been restricted to use within the Houston market, as will future donations received from the area for Variety programs in Houston.
Since the funds were distributed, Variety has already implemented new programs, and provided programmatic support to over 150 local children and their families.
As you will see in the stories below, Variety is very much alive and well in Houston. Should you have any questions, please contact Lance Hood, Variety Executive Director, at 214.346.0920 or via e-mail.
Sincerely,
Variety the Children's Charity of Texas
At this time, we would like to extend to a thank you to all the Houston area volunteers who have worked so hard to make this a smooth transition. Thus, ensuring that as many children as possible can be assisted through Variety programs. | |
Quick Links to Variety's...
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Show Your Support for Variety in the Houston Area by Making a Donation Today!
All donations received through this site will be restricted to promoting and protecting the health and well-being of children in and around the Houston area.
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Continuing Service to Children Over $19,000 worth of adaptive equipment and therapy provided to six Houston area children
 For many of us, we take the simple things in life for granted...such as riding a bicycle around the block with a group of friends. But for many children, this is an experience they will never get to experience.
Children with limited mobility, who often require specially adapted equipment, can find themselves in a situation in which riding a bicycle can prove to be cost prohibitive for many families.
You see, these devices can range from $1,500 to more than $5,000. Since bicycles are "recreational" devices in the eyes of many insurance companies, they are not covered by most plans. Therefore, children with limited mobility are often restricted to experiencing the thrill of riding a  bike solely during therapy. Variety's Heart of Variety Fund recently selected five Houston area children to receive a fully customized bike of their own, and a little sister of one of the five to receive support for her continued therapy sessions due to the fact she was about to reach her yearly maximum for such support.
While Hurricane Ike may have slowed down the delivery a little, October 3rd proved to be a life changing day indeed for these Houston area children and their families:
* Alex - 7 - Houston - Failure to Thrive and Brittle Bone Syndrome - Has not been on a bike for more than four years after he fell off of a bike and shattered both arms. Thus, leading to the discovery of his Brittle Bone condition.
 * Bridget (pictured to the left) - 4 - Pearland - Static Encephalopathy - Now her older sister and her twin sister can share with her the experience of riding a bike. * Mauricio - 6 - Galena Park - Cerebral Palsy, Encephalopathy and Developmental Delays
* Victoria - 5 - Houston - Autism
* Kaylee & Taylor - 2 & 8 - Pearland - Leukodystrophy - Both children have this rare condition, and Variety presented Taylor with a bike and his sister Kaylee with the funds required to continue her therapy for the remainder of the year.
Click here to see images and video of the deliveries. |
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Giving Special Needs Families a Chance to Relax Special Needs Screening Series expands to Houston
One of Variety's signature programs in the North Texas area is its Special Needs Screening Series. Through this program, families raising children with special needs are invited to attend first-run, family friend films in a setting of their peers.
Many special needs children have never seen a film in a theatre. This is due to many reasons, but mainly due to the fact that parents often feel uncomfortable taking their special needs child to a movie theatre due to their condition, and the fear that others within the theatre may not understand.
With this understanding as a corner stone, Variety has partnered with Studio Movie Grill in Houston (8580 Highway 6 North & West Road) to bring the series into the Houston market. Screenings are held the opening Saturday of selected films at 11am. In an effort to ease the comfort level of the children in attendance, the sound level is lowered and lighting level is raised from normal theatre standards. But, best of all, Variety covers the admission fee of special needs children and their siblings in attendance.
While word is still getting out, Variety has hosted more than 50 special needs children to three separate film screenings (Kung Fu Panda, Wall-E and Madagascar 2).
Click here to read what the Dallas Morning News has to say about the program.
Click here to read what the Plano Profile has to say. |
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Taking 'em Out to a Ballgame Over 300 Houston area residents and more than 100 area children see the Astros in action
 Less than two weeks after Hurricane Ike, Variety and the Houston Astros made it possible for 300 individuals to watch the Astros take on the Reds on September 24. With assistance from the YMCA, Sunshine Kids and others, Variety hosted over 100 local children and their families as part of its 2nd Annual Take 'em Out to a Ballgame Series. While back in Dallas, Rockwall resident Grant threw out the first pitch at a Ranger's game and was interviewed by Fox Sports Southwest. Grant is three-years-old and has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. In addition to setting up the throw, Grant's family received a wheelchair from Variety this past spring as part of its Heart of Variety Fund which supports families through an application process with durable medical goods, medical procedures, adaptive learning technologies and much more.
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DISCLAIMER IN REGARDS TO FUTURE COMMUNICATION
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE FUTURE MESSAGES FROM VARIETY. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE RECEIVING MESSAGE FROM VARIETY, PLEASE PRESS THE "CONFIRM" BUTTON AT THE TOP OF THIS E-MAIL, SIGN-UP THROUGH THIS LINK.
PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG TO OTHERS
ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO WHOMEVER YOU FEEL WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE CONTINUED SUPPORT VARIETY WILL BE OFFERING CHILDREN IN THE HOUSTON AREA. YOU MAY DO SO BY SELECTING "FORWARD" BELOW, OR SIMPLY FORWARDING THROUGH YOU E-MAIL PROVIDER. | |
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