1) You are thirteen and living with a condition that does not allow you to attend school due to the amount of days you are unable to attend. You find out you are going to get to throw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game.

   And a week before the big day is to arrive; you are admitted into the hospital for an indefinite period of time. Five days before the game, you are in the hospital. Three days before the game, you are still in the hospital. Then, two days before the big game, you get word that you are going to get to go home from the hospital.

   STAR NUMBER ONE IS IN PLACE.
     2) After all of this, the weather is just awful. Rain has been sporadic for close to a week. There is a 60% chance of rain on game day. It is two hours before the game and it is already raining. Then, all of a sudden it starts to lighten up. An hour before game time, the field is still covered. Then, 30 minutes before game time, the announcement is made that the game is on.

   STAR NUMBER TWO IS IN PLACE.
     3)  While waiting for everything to take place in the media room, you are asked who your favorite Ranger happens to be.

   Your response is that you cannot pronounce his name, but you have given him the nickname of "Rainbow Man" because his name looks like a rainbow on the back of shirt.

   You are then told that Jared Saltalamachia is on injured reserve, and is more than likely not even in the building.

   Then...out of nowhere...not more than five minutes after calling him your favorite Ranger...Salty (his nickname since even he admits he was about nine before he could say it correctly) walks in the door and kneels down beside you.

   STAR NUMBER THREE FALLS INTO PLACE.
   It's a great story. And, it is exactly how things went down for Alrie this past Wednesday night.

   The thirteen-year-old from Mesquite, who suffers from Dysautonomia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS), was Variety's selected individual to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Rangers game against the Oakland Athletics.

   While the fourth star of the Rangers winning did not fall into place, I guarantee you that Alrie will take three out of four. Especially since one of those was meeting "The Rainbow Man".

   See photos of the stars aligning.

   Join Variety as we continue our Special Needs Screening Series with on Saturday, September 19th with the release of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs at Studio Movie Grill locations in Arlington, Dallas, Houston's City Centre and Plano. 
    Screenings of this film at all locations other than Plano will be in 3-D.

    Download the flyer now.

   For the third year in a row, this event is being fully supported by Rehab Specialties who has been a valued partner to Variety not only in this program, but in our Heart of Variety Fund as well.

   This venue is the home of the PGA Tour's annual Byron Nelson, and is a true Texas treasure.

   We look forward to another great tournament as we honor Sony Pictures Releasing's own Juli Mitchell as the 2009 Texan of the Year.

   Click here for details.

   Awards to Go has been Variety's primary promotional goods, trophies and t-shirt vendor for close to three years due to their unbeatable prices, fantastic work and so much more.

   As owner/operator of Fritts Car Shows, Jim selected Variety as the 1st Annual Lincoln Tech Pep Boys Regional Car Show's official charity. Through his efforts, and willingness to allow Variety to do a few unique little items, Variety was able to collect over 700 cans of food for selected food shelters; raised awareness by giving Variety the opportunity to speak at the opening sponsors/vendors appreciation dinner; providing us with pick of the venue placement throughout the show for our display and promotional material...and all in all assisted us in raising over $600 in donations.

  Thank you to the live auction winners who procured one of "Variety's Best of Show" trophies at the awards ceremony. Let's face it, we all think judges can be bought, and in Variety's case it was a necessity.

   Pictured are the first and second place "winners" with the respective rides. The third place "winner" is not shown for two reasons.

   One, Jim actually bought it himself due to a free round of golf that came with the third place trophy and quickly donated the trophy back. And second, the eventual winner of the trophy did not actually have a car in the event. In fact, he rode to the event with a friend in his friend's car.

   From everyone involved with Variety, thank you Jim.