Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York, Tent 7 is a 75 year old tradition of caring for children on the Niagara Frontier. The organization was founded in 1928 when an abandoned baby, left in a theatre in Pittsburgh, was "adopted" by eleven Godfathers. From the desperate plight of a heartbroken mother who could no longer care for her infant, has emerged the "Largest Children 's Charity in the World", with 50 Tents, as the Chapters are known, throughout the Free World. The sole commitment of each Tent is aid and service to children; the sick, the handicapped and the underprivileged in each locale.

Tent 7, the Buffalo Chapter, chartered on May 12, 1934, generated funds in the early years to provide iron lungs for polio victims, wheelchairs, braces and other equipment for handicapped children. An electroencephalograph (at that time was the only one located between New York City and Chicago) was purchased and incubators were provided for premature infants. Most of the fund-raising during that era was done through theatre collections and dinner parties.

In 1962, Variety was approached by Dr. Robert Warner, who had a dream . . . . to create a rehabilitation center for children with birth defects and those afflicted due to trauma or disease. Variety agreed to support this endeavor and realized they must expand their fund-raising efforts in order to do so. Thus emerged the 1st Annual Variety Club Telethon. The results of that effort raised in excess of $80,000.00, and the Children's Rehabilitation Center, a department of Children's Hospital of Buffalo became a reality.

Through the 60's and 70's, the Rehab Center and other departments of Children's Hospital were the main beneficiaries of Variety Club Telethon Funds. Soon, other children's agencies began approaching Variety with funding requests. In 1980, not only did Variety expand its commitment to Children's, it also began to serve many other children's charities; The Skating Association for the Blind & Handicapped, Association for the Research of Childhood Cancer, St. Mary's School for the Deaf, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo & Lancaster/Depew, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Variety Camping Fund and many others.

Variety Kids Telethon 2009, raised over $1.1 million. The needs continue to grow; therefore the fund-raising efforts and corporate underwriting must grow to meet those need s and join with Variety in commitment and dedication to the children we serve . . . EVERYBODY'S CHILDREN!

Realizing that as a fund raising organization, Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York is the keeper of public funds through its year long activities, the largest of which is the Annual Telethon, and as such, is also the keeper of the "Public Trust" in the way these contributions are distributed.

The Children's Rehabilitation Foundation of the Variety Club of Buffalo, Inc. is the recipient of all donations from the Annual Variety Kids Telethon and other fund raising sources.
Within the Foundation is the Heart Committee, a seven member panel, who receive all funding requests, personally investigate the need, and report on all findings. Those requesting funds, must supply the Foundation with current audited financial statements, a 501 C(3) determination letter (their charitable status), and information as to how the funds will be used. Variety requests that these funds be administered in hands-on programs to directly benefit children, and does not fund administrative costs.

The Heart Committee will then make their recommendations to the Officers and Directors of the Foundation for their approval.

The contributions are then disbursed to the recipients at the Annual "Thanks for Giving" Presentation Dinner, held in November of each year.

CHILDREN'S AGENCIES FUNDED
WOMEN & CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO
VARIETY TENT 7 NEO-NATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
CHILD LIFE DEPARTMENT
ESSENTIAL CARE UNIT
JUVENILE DIABETES DEPARTMENT
KIDNEY DIALYSIS UNIT
 
ROBERT WARNER CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION CENTER
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
ROBERT WARNER M.D CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
 
OTHER CHILDREN'S CHARITIES
BIG BROTHERS & BIG SISTERS
BORNHAVA
BUFFALO HEARING & SPEECH
BUFFALO NEWS NEEDIEST FUND
CAMP GOOD DAYS & SPECIAL TIMES
CARLY'S CLUB
CHALLENGERS - LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
CHALLENGERS SLED HOCKEY
CHILDREN'S GROWTH FOUNDATION
CRADLE BEACH CAMP
DULSKI COMMUNITY CENTER
EXCALIBUR LEISURE SKILLS CENTER
FRANCISCAN CENTER
HERITAGE CENTER
KELLY FOR KIDS FOUNDATION
LOTHLORIEN THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
SABAH
ST. MARY'S SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
ST. VINCENT DEPAUL
VARIETY CAMPING PROGRAM
VARIETY SUNSHINE COACH PROGRAM
VARIETY AT WORK PROGRAM
VARIETY/DELTA SONIC YOUTH HOCKEY PROGRAM

VARIETY AT WORK is a hands on program that has enabled Variety - The Children's Charity of Buffalo & Western New York to sponsor various activities structured toward entertaining the sick, handicapped and underprivileged children of Western New York. Variety volunteers take a break from fundraising or just everyday life to spend time with Variety’s special children at a Bison Baseball game, picnic or party. In addition, inner city kids have learned teamwork and how to skate by playing hockey in the Adelphia/Variety Youth Hockey program. For many of these kids it was the first time they had any involvement with Hockey.

The VARIETY AT WORK program was recognized for their efforts over 60 tents at the annual Variety International Convention held in Los Angeles in April 1999.

VARIETY AT WORK is a growing program for the children of the Niagara Frontier and we at Tent 7 are hopeful that the future will bring new and added events to enable us to bring smiles to the faces of the special children of our community.