Do you look at how many of the charities target population are served (in Variety's case the number of children served)? Do you look at how impactful the service was? Do you look at how effective the charity was with the money they have?

   These are all questions that you should consider. They are just a few of the questions that watchdog agencies (independent organizations who monitor charity activity), donors and the community at large use to judge the work that a charity performs.

   Variety may not serve more children than some other charities. In fact, we do not even come close. However, the children, and families, whose lives we do touch are impacted in ways beyond measure. 
   Whether it is the gift of a wheelchair, walker, adaptive bicycle or other durable medical good, or the opportunity for a special needs child to see a first-run family friendly feature in a movie theatre with his/her peers, the effect of Variety cannot be measured.

   As for the final question, Variety the Children's Charity of Texas is by far one of the most effective charities in Texas. How do you know?

   Most industry standards call for charities to spend no less than 70% of their federally reported Form 990 revenue (a 990 is a nonprofit tax return, and the revenue figure presented on the 990 equates to total revenue minus direct expenses for fundraising programs, events and any costs of goods sold) on programmatic services. There are some watchdog agencies that call for 75%.

   We are very pleased to announce that for Variety's 2007-2008 Fiscal Year; more than 88.5% of our federally reported 990 revenue was spent on programmatic services. That is more than 10% of the most stringent industry standards. And, it was not an anomaly. Our previous fiscal year came in at 84.62%.

   We hope you share in the pride that we have in achieving these standards, and impart on you the importance we place on using your donor dollars to the maximum benefit for the children we serve.

   Full details will be released about the new figures next week.

  Thanks to the support of The Donachie Foundation, Variety once again hosted a Valentine's celebration for special needs children.

  Variety this year presented a bundle of goodies from copies of Dr. Suess classics (Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? and And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street) to a very whimsical stuffed Cat in the Hat and many other items to the children of Arlington's Green Oaks School.

   Green Oaks School is a private school based in Arlington whose approximately 45 students, ranging in age from eight to their very early 20's, have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome and similar developmental delays.

   Green Oaks and Variety are no strangers to one another. Their families have participated in other Variety programming such as our Take 'em Out to a Ballgame series and several of our Special Needs Screeners.

   That makes it a total of 17 participating theatre chains and a total of more than 150 theatres you can see films in for free this year throughout the state of Texas.

   Do not miss out on this opportunity! Get yours before it is too late.

   We encourage you to visit Great Nonprofits, and share your story or find out why one parent called us, "...a really amazing charity that we truly could not have done without."

   Or, why another called Variety, "...a wonderful program for people like me, who work, contribute to society, but just do not have the 'extra' to purchase equipment that their children need."