A story on A Current Affair of how an iPad is helping kids with autism, funded by Variety:
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Variety NSW grants over $2.24 million, to over 18,000 children, in 2011
16 DecVariety, the Children’s Charity, in NSW, Australia, has just had their AGM, releasing these statistics for the year 2011:
As another year wraps up we must say a big thank you to all Variety’s supporters! We have had a busy year with some fantastic events, partnerships and volunteer support which allowed us to grant $2.24 Million on appeals in 2011 and enrich the lives of over 18,000 children.
With thanks to your support we have been able to achieve big things this year…
- Over $2.1M used to purchase 38 Sunshine Coaches for schools and support organisations, bringing sunshine into the lives of many children who through either disadvantaged circumstances or health issues would have previously not been able to get “out and about” in their community.
- 34 Walkers and Standers given to help children get out of their wheelchairs, to interact with siblings and friends, take part in fun activities and learn to move about.
- $253,029 used to purchase 46 Wheelchairs for special needs children across Australia.
- $519,671 spent on Liberty Swings now installed in 20 more locations across Australia, giving children in wheelchairs the chance to swing and laugh.
- Over 1,200 Bikes given to children across Australia – the joy of your first bike… priceless!
and so much more… THANK YOU!
Any donation, big or small, helps toward these wonderful kids. You can donate online.
NSW Variety Tent 56 Wins International Sunshine Coach Award
4 AugFollowing is a press release from Jack Cannons AM, Chairman Variety International Sunshine Coaches:
Variety the Children’s Charity International Sunshine Coach Program continues to get the kids out into the sunshine with a total of 159 Sunshine Coaches presented around the world in 2010.
Tents (Tents are the Variety organisational area term for geographical areas, coming from Variety’s history in the entertainment/circus industry) are asked to provide the number of seats in each coach as well as the number of coach’s presented. The reason for this; different regions have different size coaches, ranging from 6 seat Sunshine Coaches to 29 seat Sunshine Coaches. When we collate the number of seats made available in the 159 Sunshine Coaches presented in 2010 it tells a powerful story about the work of Variety around the world
- 2,335 new Variety Sunshine Coaches seats were made available every day (through the 159 Sunshine Coaches presented in 2010 alone) to provide sunshine to the lives of Special Needs Children
- If each of the 2010 presented Sunshine Coaches are used 5 times a week the number of seats available each week is 11,675.
- If we multiply the number of seats available each week over the period of one year it shows that 607,100 seats were made available for kids to travel in through these 159 SS Coaches
We continue to use a spread sheet to decide the 3 equal winners of the VI Sunshine Coach Awards from information from the VI Tent Reports. This formula introduced 3 years ago provides a transparent opportunity for all the Tents who are part of the Sunshine Coach Programme to be eligible for an award and is not based on numbers alone.
- Category #1. Largest growth in number of Coaches presented in current year.
- Category #2. Greatest number of Coaches presented in the past 4 years.
- Category #3. The Tent that demonstrates the most significant commitment to the programme taking into account the size and operational challenges of the Tent.
The following 15 Variety Tents have presented Sunshine Coaches during 2010.
- Tent 4 St Louis. 1 SS Coaches total 12 seats
- Tent 7 Buffalo & Western New York. 1 SS Coach total 15 seats
- Tent 15 Iowa. 10 SS Coaches total 106 seats
- Tent 17 Texas. 1 SS Coach total 18 seats
- Tent 36 Great Britain. 101 SS Coaches total 1414 seats
- Tent 39 Southern Nevada 1 SS Coach total 12 seats
- Tent 47 British Columbia. 4 SS Coaches total 69 seats
- Tent 52 Jersey 2 SS Coach total 32 seats
- Tent 56 New South Wales. 11 SS Coaches total 247 seats
- Tent 68 New Zealand. 1 SS Coaches total 12 seats
- Tent 74 Western Australia. 6 SS Coaches total 112 seats
- Tent 75 South Australia. 11 SS Coaches total 180 seats
- Tent 76 Queensland. 3 SS Coaches total 36 seats
- Tent 77 Victoria. 3 SS Coaches total 36 seats
- Tent 82 Tasmania 3 SS Coach total 32 seats
A total of $7,141,199.40 was invested internationally by the 15 Tents in the 2010 Sunshine Coach Program. Congratulations are in order to all Tents who have provided Sunshine Coaches for their special needs kids.
A special mention to Tent 52 Jersey who almost won the Category #3 Award.
A Huge Congratulations to Tent 36 who this year presented their 5000th Sunshine Coach as part of their 101 presented Sunshine Coaches for the year.
The 3 Variety International Sunshine Coach Award Recipients for 2010:
- Category #1 Tent 56 New South Wales
- Category #2 Tent 15 Iowa
- Category #3 Tent 82 Northern Territory
Please note these are equal awards not 1st 2nd 3rd.
Stay in touch with Variety NSW on Facebook
3 Mar
Variety NSW has set up a Facebook page to keep followers up to date on all things Variety, share stories of children who we have been able to help, send event invitations, post photos and more.
Please go to the Variety NSW page and click on the Like button 
to keep in touch with Variety NSW on Facebook
Trekking with Variety: Kokoda Challenge
25 Feb
Take the Kokoda Trek, while at the same time raising funds for Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs. Money raised goes towards Variety’s Vision for Life program.
The Kokoda Challenge is trekking from October 1 to 11, 2011, on the historic Kokoda Trail. A good fitness goal for the year!
See more details on the Kokoda Challenge page.
2011 NSW Variety Bash brochure now available
21 Feb
Download the 2011 NSW Variety Bash brochure (as a PDF) for the full, official, details about this year’s Bash.
Online donations towards Variety now even easier
19 FebWe now have a page set up to make it easy to donate towards Variety: Donate now.
Just as a reminder, Variety, the Children’s Charity is a a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of children in need. Variety’s vision is for all children to attain their full potential; regardless of ability or background – and our mission is to enrich, improve, and transform the lives of seriously ill, disadvantaged and special needs children. We do this through our four umbrella programs:
- Variety Freedom Program: the gift of INDEPENDENCE & SELF ESTEEM – assisting with mobility and communication through Liberty Swings, Sunshine Coaches, vehicle modifications, communication aides, walk and stand equipment.
- Variety Caring For Kids Program: the gift of SUPPORT – to hospitals, health services, intensive care units, new born and children’s emergency transport ambulances.
- Variety Future Kids Program: the gift of EDUCATION & ACHIEVEMENT – helping kids with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds to fulfil their academic, sports, or arts potential with equipment, tuition and other practical support.
- Variety @ Work: the gift of JOY – providing children with an opportunity to be a part of activities and events that due to disability or financial hardship they would otherwise not experience.
It’s a great cause, with more than a million dollars’ worth of benefits being distributed in Australia each year. Every little, or big, bit helps towards that. Donate now.
Update: the link above was for the 2011 NSW Variety Bash. The donations link for the 2012 NSW Variety Bash is: http://2012nswbalmaintobamaga.gofundraise.com.au/page/Angels
Private surf lesson with Layne Beachley up for auction
17 Feb
To aid Manly Centre Management and Variety Children’s Charity, Layne Beachley, seven times world surfing champion, has offered to give a private surf lesson. Put in your bid for that, with 27 more prizes included in the “Manly Experience” prize package!
Trekking with Variety: Northern Indian Himalayas Challenge
11 Feb
Do two great things at the one time: trek through the amazing Himalayas while raising funds for Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs. Money raised will fund life saving tele-medicine equipment through Variety’s Vision for Life program.
Trek from September 3 to 11, 2011, in Northern India’s Himalayas, with incredible views of mountains and forests. For more details see the Northern India Challenge 2011 page.
Photos from the 2009 Bennelong to Broken Hill Variety Bash
8 FebThe 2009 Bennelong to Broken Hill Bash raised over $1.9M raised for sick, special needs and disadvantaged kids. See some photos here:
2009VarietyBash from ZOOM Productions on Vimeo.
