80 Stories, 80 Days: Beaming Around the Neighborhood

This awesome 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 Sarah Beers:

Variety Child, Sam Beers, showing off his trike and his muscles with the neighbor boys!

My son Sam received an adaptive trike from Variety a couple of summers ago. He has had so much fun riding it and I think of the generosity of the Variety crew whenever I see him ride it. We have been shown so much love by Variety and we're so grateful to be a part of the family. I'm attaching a photo of him during the summer with the other boys in the neighborhood riding bikes. He was just beaming on this day. The best part is that his bike is actually faster than theirs!

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.

80 Stories, 80 Days: Remember What’s Important in Life

This heartfelt 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 Alicia Kirkpatrick:

I will never forget the Variety Show of 2013. I was fortunate enough to be on the Young Variety planning committee with Deb, Mark, and the rest of the amazing individuals that comprise the group. 2013 was my first year to be involved, and we worked for months preparing for the big event. Words cannot express how I felt when I walked into the Midland that evening and saw all of the pieces come together. I saw the kids for the first time when everyone met on stage to rehearse with Drew 6. As soon as he started performing and the kids joined in, I was brought to tears. Sometimes the stresses of life can cause you to forget about what is really important in this life. That moment brought me back to reality and filled my spirit with something I had not felt in a long time.

Deb, thank you for all you do. Cheers to Variety, and here’s to another 80 years... and more!

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.

80 Stories, 80 Days: Seeing Our Children Shine

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.

From the Mast Family:

Variety Child, Rachel Mast, on stage during the 2013 Variety Show.

We started our Variety journey in Memphis TN. It was such a positive experience that when we moved to Kansas City, we hoped to continue to be involved with Variety. My husband met Deborah at an event and then I met her. We were impressed with her and what they were trying to do. We have had the opportunity to do some events with the Royals and some really fun things. Rachel even got to meet and have her picture made with Billy Brewer! My best memory is around the Variety Acting Camp this past summer. My daughter Rachel has been in 14 stage productions. She loves the theatre. Deb and I had discussed inclusive theatre and Variety a number of times. This past summer Variety KC had their first camp. In conjunction with Stage Right Productions, they recruited typical peers and put on a short program at the end of the two day camp. This will probably seem like an odd memory, but here it is. Rachel has been on the stage a lot. She has Down syndrome and has good communication skills. Some of the students in the camp were in wheel chairs while others had serious medical conditions or other sensory issues. Many of their parents saw them on stage for the first time that afternoon. That’s my best memory of Variety. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to be a part of it and for what you do for kids and families! May God continue to bless.

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.

80 Stories, 80 Days: The True Heroes

This great 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 Todd Natenberg:

This is my first year on the committee of the Children’s Variety show, and I'm very excited. I was first introduced to the organization because I'm a former mobility manager for a company that provides wheelchair accessible minivans for special needs individuals. In that capacity, we partnered with Variety to help children. While I'm new to Variety, I have a long history of helping those with special needs. That's why I'm helping now. Most recently, I volunteered at a summer camp for children with Muscular Dystrophy who were confined to wheelchairs. To see their bravery and positive outlook on life, it was I who received the gift, not the one who gave it. They were the true heroes.






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.

80 Stories, 80 Days: A Heartwarming Experience at Starlight

This sweet 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 Bob Potemski:

2013 was the first year in my memory that Variety Club was able to participate in Starlight Theatre's Community Ticket Program, a program through which we make it possible for individuals typically unable to access live Broadway entertainment to attend performances here at Starlight. Watching the faces of the kids and their parents during shows like Disney's The Little Mermaid was a truly heartwarming experience.

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.

80 Stories, 80 Days: A Memorable Moment - Forever in Our Minds and Hearts

This powerful 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 the Paro Family:

Variety child, Emily Paro, with her handcycle
and Variety's Director, Deborah Wiebrecht.

My daughter Emily was born with Spina Bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down. Deborah and the Variety team along with a local high school (Shawnee Mission Northwest) students purchased her the most awesome hand cycle I have ever seen.

The presentation was so memorable from the tunnel that all the adults formed for all the kids in the school to the tasty donuts that were given to everyone. It was a very memorable moment that will forever be embedded in our minds and hearts.

Variety does everything they can to help children and I am so thankful they have been involved in our lives. Deborah is such a delight to be around. She really deserves a major pat on the back or maybe an awesome trip to Hawaii (Hint! Hint!).

Like Deborah told me the first time we talked "Once your in the Variety family you’re taken care of and never forgotten."

Thanks,
Dean and Angela Paro

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.

80 Stories, 80 Days: “Transporting” Children

This joyful 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 Larry Carl:

The Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Kansas City established its own Charitable Foundation in 2010. It was done with the objective to give back to the community that supports the dealers' businesses and to positively impact the lives and futures of Kansas Citians. The nature of the dealers business is transportation, thus an emphasis was placed on providing grants that benefitted children who have mobility challenges. Our first experience with Variety KC was at our Auto Show where we able to present adaptive bikes to two wonderful kids. The expression on their faces and to see their eyes light up brought tears of joy to everyone present. We have been happy to be a sponsor of the Variety Show in the past and have big plans for the special park that will be dedicated this summer.

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.