Variety- The Children’s Charity of Buffalo & Western NY – Tent #7

Help “Our” Kids Achieve their Dreams and Goals was the theme for the 51st Variety- The Children’s Charity of Buffalo and WNY’s Annual Kids Telethon. This theme was what the late, great Dr. Robert Warner envisioned when he first approached the Variety Club of Buffalo in 1962 with a dream of building a rehabilitation center for physically challenged children. As a result of Dr. Bob’s dream, $80,000 was raised in 1962 and since that very first Telethon, millions of dollars have been raised over the past 52 years to help the children of the Niagara frontier.

Through the partnership of ABC’s affiliate News Channel 7, Variety Tent #7 is proud their Telethon is the longest locally produced telethon throughout the United States. Not only does Channel 7 air the Telethon but is instrumental in getting Variety’s name out year round.

Variety Tent 7 raised funds throughout the year to benefit Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, the Robert Warner Rehab Center and other charities that help sick, handicapped and underprivileged children of Western New York.

It’s a lot of work to raise that million dollar plus figure but we have fun doing it. One of our new fundraisers is our weekly “Cruise Night”, bringing out the “oldies but goodies” every Tuesday from May until September. In addition to fundraising year round, Variety Tent #7 continues their camping program; sending to camp hundreds of children who may not otherwise do so.

Variety at Work continues to host parties, such as “A Night at the Ballgame”, and provide gifts to the “special” children of our community, making it all so worthwhile.

We would be remiss not to mention the adaptive bikes given to Summit Educational Services and Springville Center for the Handicapped through the US Mobility program and Freedom Concepts.

Variety Tent #7 remains strong and dedicated to the children so they may keep alive their hopes and dreams. Children are and will always be the first priority of Variety-The Children’s Charity of Buffalo and WNY.