"Variety in Motion"
Friday, January 31, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: Zoe’s Everything
This heartwarming story about supporting Zoe and helping her interact with her peers is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign. Through it, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: We Are a Family
This happy story is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign. For every story we collect through this campaign, Unique Connect will make a donation directly to our organization, so please submit your story now.
From Danny O'Neill:
Variety is one of the most special organizations that I am involved with. From their inspired and passionate leadership to the children so full of love and gratitude, it is a heartwarming and uplifting organization. I've never been involved with a group of more positive, happy and giving people in my life. They are fun, creative, giving and just wonderful people to hang around with. Some of my best friends and some of the most meaningful business relationships were born in working with the Variety family; and they are truly a family.
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
From Danny O'Neill:
Variety is one of the most special organizations that I am involved with. From their inspired and passionate leadership to the children so full of love and gratitude, it is a heartwarming and uplifting organization. I've never been involved with a group of more positive, happy and giving people in my life. They are fun, creative, giving and just wonderful people to hang around with. Some of my best friends and some of the most meaningful business relationships were born in working with the Variety family; and they are truly a family.
 |
| Danny O’Neill backstage with the dancers at one of Variety’s biggest fundraisers – the 2013 Variety Show |
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: Kamora’s Wish
This inspiring story about Kamora’s wonderful way of doing things is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign. Through it, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Monday, January 27, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: Haley’s Proof
Haley’s inspiring story about learning to be strong and embracing who you are is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign. Through it, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: Giving Kynedi a Lift
This wonderful story is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign.
For every story we collect through this campaign, Unique Connect will make a donation
directly to our organization, so please submit your story now.
Written by Octavia M. Pleas:
Dear Deborah and Advisory Board,
Words are not available to express the kindness exhibited toward my granddaughter, Kynedi. We were in dire straits when Variety stepped in and demonstrated care and concern for our unique position and was instrumental in expediting the repairs on Kynedi’s stair lift. Kynedi had been scooting up and down the stairs to get to her bedroom for over a week. She is wheelchair bound and had previously had surgery on her left femur on May 21, 2013. This would be her 35th surgery since birth. Her doctor gave strict instructions regarding her bearing weight until her sixth week checkup. Approximately two weeks ago, her stair lift stopped working. We had difficulty getting the technician to return because we owed from a previous service call. A service call is one hundred fifty dollars plus other necessary cost dependent upon needed repairs.
I am a retired grandmother who lives on Social Security and Retirement with no savings to fall back on. We did not have money to get the stair lift repaired. The technician informed us that the circuit board was blown. We suspected that it could have occurred when we had the storm the week before. He told us that the cost of the board would be $584. We panicked because we had no idea how we could afford to repair the lift and we did not have money. Nor did we know how to keep Kynedi from bearing weight on her leg and getting her up and down the stairs.
I emailed Deborah Wiebrecht and she immediately began working to see if she could assist in resolving our dilemma. I submitted an application and followed the steps for assistance, and after a few days, Deborah and the Advisory Board at Variety called an emergency meeting, submitted a check to Silver Cross, and informed me that we would soon be getting the stair lift repaired soon.
We are so grateful for Variety and we can’t begin to express our appreciation … We now know that she will soon be able to get to her bedroom on her stair lift. We are so grateful.
This is not the first time Variety has assisted our family. In 2009, we needed a Conversion Van to take Kynedi to the many hospital and doctor appointments, school activities, etc. I traded my car in for a Van but she needed the ramp for getting her wheelchair in and out of the Van. Variety paid for the conversion ramp and it has been a life-saver. We use to have to pick Kynedi up and put her in the car, fold and unfold her wheelchair, coupled with taking the chair in and out of the trunk for every trip. It became more difficult as the years went by and she grew and became heavier to lift. With the ramp on the Van, she is able to steer herself into and out of the Van in her power chair. It has now been four years and thanks to Variety, our lives have been much more manageable.
May God continue to bless you and the wonderful outreach you have for children with disabilities. If there is ever anything we can do to help Variety, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We will do our best to rise to the occasion.
Respectfully,
Octavia M. Pleas
Grandmother
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Written by Octavia M. Pleas:
Dear Deborah and Advisory Board,
Words are not available to express the kindness exhibited toward my granddaughter, Kynedi. We were in dire straits when Variety stepped in and demonstrated care and concern for our unique position and was instrumental in expediting the repairs on Kynedi’s stair lift. Kynedi had been scooting up and down the stairs to get to her bedroom for over a week. She is wheelchair bound and had previously had surgery on her left femur on May 21, 2013. This would be her 35th surgery since birth. Her doctor gave strict instructions regarding her bearing weight until her sixth week checkup. Approximately two weeks ago, her stair lift stopped working. We had difficulty getting the technician to return because we owed from a previous service call. A service call is one hundred fifty dollars plus other necessary cost dependent upon needed repairs.
I am a retired grandmother who lives on Social Security and Retirement with no savings to fall back on. We did not have money to get the stair lift repaired. The technician informed us that the circuit board was blown. We suspected that it could have occurred when we had the storm the week before. He told us that the cost of the board would be $584. We panicked because we had no idea how we could afford to repair the lift and we did not have money. Nor did we know how to keep Kynedi from bearing weight on her leg and getting her up and down the stairs.
I emailed Deborah Wiebrecht and she immediately began working to see if she could assist in resolving our dilemma. I submitted an application and followed the steps for assistance, and after a few days, Deborah and the Advisory Board at Variety called an emergency meeting, submitted a check to Silver Cross, and informed me that we would soon be getting the stair lift repaired soon.
We are so grateful for Variety and we can’t begin to express our appreciation … We now know that she will soon be able to get to her bedroom on her stair lift. We are so grateful.
This is not the first time Variety has assisted our family. In 2009, we needed a Conversion Van to take Kynedi to the many hospital and doctor appointments, school activities, etc. I traded my car in for a Van but she needed the ramp for getting her wheelchair in and out of the Van. Variety paid for the conversion ramp and it has been a life-saver. We use to have to pick Kynedi up and put her in the car, fold and unfold her wheelchair, coupled with taking the chair in and out of the trunk for every trip. It became more difficult as the years went by and she grew and became heavier to lift. With the ramp on the Van, she is able to steer herself into and out of the Van in her power chair. It has now been four years and thanks to Variety, our lives have been much more manageable.
May God continue to bless you and the wonderful outreach you have for children with disabilities. If there is ever anything we can do to help Variety, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We will do our best to rise to the occasion.
Respectfully,
Octavia M. Pleas
Grandmother
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: Putting a Groove in Their Steps
This heartwarming story is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign. For every story we collect through this campaign, Unique Connect will make a donation directly to our organization, so please submit your story now.
From Sara Hart:
I have been a Variety volunteer for over two years. Last year, I became more involved with the Variety Show's talent search. As a result, I was invited on stage for the show's finale and was paired up with a Variety child. The final number featured Drew Six singing his original song, "We Choose Livin'", and the whole cast sang along and danced behind Drew. The boy that I was paired up with was hesitant about dancing and barely moved to the beat during rehearsal despite my coaxing. When it came time for the real thing, though, he finally caved in, started clapping and swaying along, and had a big smile on his face doing it. After the show, his mom found me and told me he hadn't stopped talking about his "dance partner" and wanted to dance again.
During those 2.5 minutes, our Variety kids became the stars of the show. They danced, they smiled and they sang along. I may have helped put a smile on that child's face but that memory will stay with me forever. These kids face challenges every day, and Variety makes it easier (and more fun) for them -- putting smiles on their faces and maybe even a groove in their step.
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
From Sara Hart:
I have been a Variety volunteer for over two years. Last year, I became more involved with the Variety Show's talent search. As a result, I was invited on stage for the show's finale and was paired up with a Variety child. The final number featured Drew Six singing his original song, "We Choose Livin'", and the whole cast sang along and danced behind Drew. The boy that I was paired up with was hesitant about dancing and barely moved to the beat during rehearsal despite my coaxing. When it came time for the real thing, though, he finally caved in, started clapping and swaying along, and had a big smile on his face doing it. After the show, his mom found me and told me he hadn't stopped talking about his "dance partner" and wanted to dance again.
During those 2.5 minutes, our Variety kids became the stars of the show. They danced, they smiled and they sang along. I may have helped put a smile on that child's face but that memory will stay with me forever. These kids face challenges every day, and Variety makes it easier (and more fun) for them -- putting smiles on their faces and maybe even a groove in their step.
 |
| Variety children and volunteers starring in the grand finale of the 2013 Variety Show |
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: Speaking (and Singing) for Children with Disabilities
This beautiful story is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign. For every story we collect through this campaign, Unique Connect will make a donation directly to our organization, so please submit your story now.
From Danielle Coulter:
My most fun memory about Variety is when I helped write and sing the Variety song with Drew Six, because I love when we show people what disabled kids really feel like inside. I really love helping speak their message, when they can't do it by themselves.
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
From Danielle Coulter:
My most fun memory about Variety is when I helped write and sing the Variety song with Drew Six, because I love when we show people what disabled kids really feel like inside. I really love helping speak their message, when they can't do it by themselves.
 |
| Variety kid, Danielle Coulter, backstage with Drew Six at the 2013 Variety Show |
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
80 Stories, 80 Days: The Pinter Family Blessing
This beautiful story is a part of our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign. For every story we collect through this campaign,
Unique Connect will donate directly to our organization, so
please submit your story now.
Written by Kara Pinter:
Blessed ... the word that best describes our family. On June 8, 2007 we welcomed our third child into our family. Bryce arrived three weeks earlier than expected. He was quickly taken to the NICU. During his days in the NICU, doctors began to suspect that he had a form of skeletal dysplasia. The months following his birth were filled with many doctor’s appointments, question, and waves of emotions. We received Bryce’s “official” diagnosis of achondroplasia a few months after his birth.
Being a parent of a child with special needs was new to us. Along with the excitement of this precious new life, was the presence of numerous stressors: Dr. appointment’s, developmental delays, unanswered questions, therapy, trying to maintain some form of medical management, etc. We realized quickly that at times our journey was exhausting, and lonely.
As Bryce got older, one thing was apparent….he was a kid like every other kid. He just did things a little differently. Bryce REALLY wanted to ride a bike. We tried every solution we could think of to get a bike to “fit.” Bryce’s school suggested we contact Variety Children’s Charity. We did, and what we were met with was so much more than an organization that provides mobility equipment (although that is WONDERFUL). We were met with this incredible compassion and excitement about Bryce and his life.
Bryce was gifted a bike through Variety. What a blessing it has been. He loves being just like the other kids. We want you to know that this gift has been so much more than a bike, this gift has been a piece of hope. Hope in the form of compassion, encouragement, friendships and a sincere excitement about the lives of all Variety kids. When Variety enters the life of a family their journey is a little lighter. The gift of mobility is precious; the gift of hope is priceless.
We are all so very grateful! THANK you for investing in Bryce’s life. You have left footprints that will be foundational to his entire life. What a joy it has been to be a part of this tremendous organization. The Pinter’s, along with so many families, have been blessed by both the gifts and the hope that Variety so graciously gives.
With grateful hearts,
The Pinter Family
Bryce Pinter receiving his adaptive bicycle from Variety Children's Charity.
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets to our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
Written by Kara Pinter:
Blessed ... the word that best describes our family. On June 8, 2007 we welcomed our third child into our family. Bryce arrived three weeks earlier than expected. He was quickly taken to the NICU. During his days in the NICU, doctors began to suspect that he had a form of skeletal dysplasia. The months following his birth were filled with many doctor’s appointments, question, and waves of emotions. We received Bryce’s “official” diagnosis of achondroplasia a few months after his birth.
Being a parent of a child with special needs was new to us. Along with the excitement of this precious new life, was the presence of numerous stressors: Dr. appointment’s, developmental delays, unanswered questions, therapy, trying to maintain some form of medical management, etc. We realized quickly that at times our journey was exhausting, and lonely.
As Bryce got older, one thing was apparent….he was a kid like every other kid. He just did things a little differently. Bryce REALLY wanted to ride a bike. We tried every solution we could think of to get a bike to “fit.” Bryce’s school suggested we contact Variety Children’s Charity. We did, and what we were met with was so much more than an organization that provides mobility equipment (although that is WONDERFUL). We were met with this incredible compassion and excitement about Bryce and his life.
Bryce was gifted a bike through Variety. What a blessing it has been. He loves being just like the other kids. We want you to know that this gift has been so much more than a bike, this gift has been a piece of hope. Hope in the form of compassion, encouragement, friendships and a sincere excitement about the lives of all Variety kids. When Variety enters the life of a family their journey is a little lighter. The gift of mobility is precious; the gift of hope is priceless.
We are all so very grateful! THANK you for investing in Bryce’s life. You have left footprints that will be foundational to his entire life. What a joy it has been to be a part of this tremendous organization. The Pinter’s, along with so many families, have been blessed by both the gifts and the hope that Variety so graciously gives.
With grateful hearts,
The Pinter Family
Bryce Pinter receiving his adaptive bicycle from Variety Children's Charity.
Through our 80 Stories, 80 Days campaign, we are asking all of you who have been touched by our organization in any way to share your story and help us gain more support for Kansas City children with developmental disabilities.
Unique Connect will donate directly to us for every story we collect through this campaign, so please submit your story now.
Looking for another way to support Variety? Get your tickets to our biggest fundraiser of the year – the 2014 Variety Show starring Sinbad.
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