Spotlight fall 2015

A publication of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis

Spotlight FALL 2015

Inside…

CEO Letter

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5 Reasons to See Mary Poppins 3 Save The Dates

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Champion for Children’s Summit 4 Community Fundraisers 5

October 23–25, 2015 Touhill Performing Arts Center based on the timeless disney film that introduced

the world to the word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” Mary Poppins brings a surplus of joy and wonder to the Variety Children’s Theatre stage. Boasting a cast of St. Louis’ top theatrical talents and a children’s ensemble featuring kids of all ability levels, Mary Poppins runs October 23–25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Every year, Variety Children’s Theatre selects a musical that provides wonderful entertainment alongside a powerful message for families to take home. For all its rollicking adventures and musical numbers, Mary Poppins is the story of a father learning to love his children as they are, and see the world through their eyes.

For Variety, this is an incredibly touching narrative that supports our mission of helping kids with disabilities, who often see the world in different ways. Instead of dismissing them, we all learn and grow more by meeting these children on their terms. It doesn’t take a magical nanny to teach us that.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! www.touhill.org

What is a Bequest? 5 Henry’s Big Adventure:

BIKES FOR KIDS 6

Honorariums and Memorials

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Variety’s Mission

To help local children with disabilities reach their full potential by providing services every time they need assistance.

From our Chief Executive Officer it’s back to school time in the lives of

our Variety kids. Time to share stories about their days at the Variety Adventure Camp and the fun had by all at Grants Farm, an event that included siblings, moms and dads and even grandparents! In fact we find that in helping our Variety kids reach their full potential we are making life easier and happier for the entire family.

Variety programs give each child skills, selfesteem, independence and socialization with their peers. To insure this we make the goals, and measure the outcomes in order to grow the programs from one year to the next. The families never cease to amaze us with their success stories.

So we enter this school year with kids who have the equipment and therapy they need to take part in school—moving with wheelchairs, standers and walkers, learning with programmable hearing aids, communicating with their special devices, and playing with others after school riding bikes. There’s even enough gusto left to round out the day rehearsing and performing in Variety’s professional production presented in October at the Touhill. The cast includes professional

actors, the orchestra has professional musicians, the sets and costumes are designed and built by renowned artists, but the highlight is the children’s chorus with children of all abilities holding their own in this year’s famous Disney classic Mary Poppins.

As this fall rolls along Variety children look forward with glee to Variety’s annual bikes for kids event. Over 250 children who have never had a bike will finally ride down the street on their very own bike thanks to this program now in its 20th year. Two thousand bikes later Variety kids have grown up knowing you’ve cared enough to donate for their bikes. That speaks volumes for this community.

This is the time of year that brings St. Louis the picturesque landscapes of everything the fall season should be, along with the hopes and wishes of each Variety family that they will be able to withstand all the challenges of raising a child with disabilities this season and the next.

What a great opportunity we all have to help them by giving to Variety. Thanks to you therapy, recreation, education, equipment and Sunshine Coach transportation is on the way!

All the best, Jan Albus chief executive officer

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Fall Spotlight

Top 5 reasons to see Disney’s Mary Poppins

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

by the time you can say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, the tickets may all be gone, as Variety Children’s Theatre presents Disney’s Mary Poppins, October 23–25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. You can get tickets at touhill.org or by calling 314-516-4949.

The five reasons why this production is a can’t-miss family event—

1. Variety Kids: There are 19 (count ‘em) Variety kids—and gifted theatrical kids, stepping in time, flying kites, having a jolly holiday and finding a magical word: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

2. The Adults: While the kids will surely steal the audience’s hearts, an adult cast featuring St. Louis’ top theatrical actors join them. Our Mary Poppins, Elizabeth DeRosa, is using her umbrella to fly in from Broadway, Whit Reichert, playing Admiral Boom, is a mainstay at The Muny, The Rep and Stages St. Louis, as well as Zoe Vonder-Haar.

3. The Dancing: From the taps of the Big Muddy Dancers and the legions of Chimney Sweeps, you won’t be able to stop your own feet from tapping in the showstopper “Step in Time”!

4. The Set Design: It’s by far our most lavish Variety Children’s Theatre production ever. Prepare yourself for grand British homes, chimneys to leap from, parks to fly a kite and starry skies to dream on—splendid set designs guaranteed to make you smile.

5. The Message: Mary Poppins is the story of a father learning to love his children as they are and see the world through their eyes. For Variety, this is an incredibly touching narrative that supports our mission of helping kids with disabilities, who often see the world in different ways.

STARLIGHT SPONSORS

Above left: Selah, in Peter Pan. Above right: Nick as Flounder in the Little Mermaid Ken & Nancy Kranzberg Ron & Cheri Fromm | Michael & Noémi Neidorff

STARLIGHT SPONSORS

Terry & SallyCORPORATE Schnuck | David & Thelma Steward SPONSORS

ken & nancy kranzberg ron & cheri fromm michael & noémi neidorff terry & sally schnuck david & thelma steward ©2015 Variety the Children’s Charity

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SAVE THE DATES

Variety Events Young Variety Taste of October

October 9, 2015 • Anheuser-Busch Biergarten • 7pm–9pm

The 2nd annual Taste of October event will have a combination of indoor and outdoor semi-private space with heavy appetizers and an open bar.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 if purchased after October 2nd.

Trivia Night hosted by Young Variety

January 23, 2016 • St Louis University High School Doors open at 6pm

Sold out in 2015, this night is perfect for questioning minds and giving hearts. Dozens of teams compete to raise money for local kids with special needs. We also feature special guest appearances from Variety kids, who help read the questions and get the crowd fired up. Easier questions this year so practice your trophy acceptance speech now! Reserve your table at www.varietystl.org or call Justin at 314-720-7707.

Champions for Children Summit

November 10, 2015 • Chase Park Plaza, 8:30am–1:30pm

Join us as we learn and celebrate the nonprofit world that supports children with special needs. This annual event brings together passionate people of all stripes—families, agencies, experts (See article below) and donors— to collaborate, connect and better serve children with disabilities.

The educational portion of the Champions for Children Summit is made possible through the Emerson Resource Center, a Variety service providing valuable information and expert referrals to agency staff, parents and caregivers of children with disabilities..

Meet Dr. Janice E. Brunstrom-Hernandez, Keynote Speaker for Champions for Children Summit most pediatric neurologists can’t say they have been featured in People Magazine, Parade, USA Today and appeared on “The Today Show,” but Dr. Janice E. Brunstrom-Hernandez can. And you can hear her speak on neurologic disorders, cerebral palsy and the use of robotics.

Formerly Dr. Jan (as her patients call her) was the director of the Cerebral Palsy Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She is now the director of 1 CP Place, in Plano, Texas. 1 CP Place was designed as a center where children with Cerebral Palsy can come to receive multiple services in one place.

Dr. Jan will discuss the uses and applications of robotic devices for special needs children. This fast growing futuristic field can be a new tool in the treatment of kids with disabilities.

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Fall Spotlight

Dr. Janice E. Brunstrom-Hernandez

Have a Heart Fundraisers

Leave a Legacy

are you going to celebrate a birthday soon? Does your

a bequest is a gift of property (i.e., cash,

company like to increase their community presence by helping out a local charity? A Have a Heart fundraiser is a fundraiser put on by a company, organization or individual holding a promotion, event, or sale to benefit Variety the Children’s Charity. We are grateful for dollars raised through these events—they help Variety provide programs and services to more than 8,000 local kids with disabilities. buckingham advisors, an independent wealth management firm, held a Trivia Night on August 22nd and Variety was the beneficiary. One of their employees needed help for his child and, of course, Variety stepped in.

Variety has helped his 5-year old son Josh with much-needed equipment.

The Buckingham Advisors Trivia night had 400 attendees and raised over $11,000.

In addition, mitchell gold + bob williams made Variety their charitable recipient during a fall collection event. And a very generous 16-yearold celebrated her Sweet 16 by having all her gifts go to Variety. Others supporting our mission were Visitation Academy’s Spirit Night and Piccione Pastry’s week of bakery delights. Anyway you help, Variety kids appreciate it.

Buckingham Advisors Trivia Night.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Fall Charity Event.

securities, real estate) made through your will.

You can benefit Variety through your estate plan by including us as a beneficiary of your Living Trust, retirement account or life insurance policy.

Remembering Variety with a gift from your estate will help sustain and strengthen our programs and our ability to serve children with disabilities for years to come. Some advantages of making a gift through your estate plan include: • There is very little or no cost incurred now, and you have the satisfaction of knowing you have provided for Variety in the future • You retain control of and use of your assets during your lifetime • You may modify or revoke the gift if your circumstances change • Gifts to Variety from your estate are exempt from federal estate taxes • If you let Variety know of your plans, we will be able to thank you now and recognize you as a member of our encore society.

A gift to Variety through your estate plan can be in the form of a specific dollar amount, a percentage of, or all or a portion of what is left after you have provided for your beneficiaries. To make a gift from your estate, you may need to revise your will, Living Trust or certain beneficiary designation forms. If you are interested in providing for Variety in your estate plan, we encourage you to contact your tax and/or legal advisors.

To become a member of the encore society, please contact Linda Sanders at (314) 720-7712 or Linda@varietystl.org.

Meet our Champion for Children, Aeneas Williams aeneas williams is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but more importantly, a superstar to Variety kids.

When he took part in our Bikes for Kids program, he not only encouraged the bike builders and bike riders, he actually helped several kids learn how to ride.

“Believe me, I learned how to motivate from the best. Of course, I’m a lot nicer coach than the coaches I had.”

Whatever coaching he got sure worked, because Williams, a six-time Pro Bowler, is considered one of the best players in Cardinals football history.

Besides being a champion for Variety kids, Williams is pastor of Spirit Church in St. Louis, which he founded in 2007.

Aeneas Williams with Andrew.

©2015 Variety the Children’s Charity

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Henry’s Big Adventure: BIKES FOR KIDS on a summer thursday unlike any other,

Henry arrived at the Webster Groves Recreation Complex for his first test drive. It had him a bit worried. As he said to his mom on the way, “Why am I going? I can’t ride a bike.”

But Henry was wrong. Gloriously wrong.

Because within a few moments of climbing onto his therapeutic bicycle, Henry was riding a bike, with confidence and a big smile.

Think about your first bike. And the euphoria that came when you finally figured out how to ride it. Think of the feeling of freedom you had. And the smile that covered your face.

“A bicycle makes the world just a bit bigger.”

Now imagine you’re Henry, and you’ve grown up with the limitations of a wheelchair or walker. Think about the mobility, the independence, and the sense of purpose a bike would mean.

For Henry and his family, and for the dozens of other St. Louis-area kids getting a free therapeutic bicycle through Variety’s BIKES FOR KIDS program, that Thursday changed everything.

For Henry in particular, it was the first step, or, if you will, pedal, toward getting him walking again. Henry has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a form of the condition that causes progressive muscular degeneration and weakness, and affects mainly boys.

“This will help reduce the weakening of his legs, plus the core of his body,” said Claire, Henry’s mom. “We want to get him able to play with friends again.”

bikes for kids is sponsored by:

david b. lichtenstein foundation lucia rodriguez chip & kathleen rosenbloom herbert a. & adrian w. woods foundation 6

Fall Spotlight

The great thing about a bike is that it provides exercise, but it doesn’t feel like exercise.

It feels like fun. The BIKES FOR KIDS program is where that fun begins for these kids.

On test-drive day, the team from Creative Mobility, a company specializing in tailor-fitting new bikes to kids with various physical and developmental disabilities, finds the bike that’s right for each kid: foot-powered or handpedaled, recumbent or upright.

Fully customizing a bike is a challenge that takes time. And when the kids find out their bikes won’t be ready till November, well, their parents practically have to pry them off. This year, one boy even threatened to ride his bike all way home.

“That’s what’s so hard,” said Misty Burton, Variety’s Health Services Manager. “They have to leave the test drive bikes here. This is really hard for them.”

Of course, when the bikes are presented on November 21, each one will fit perfectly; as unique as the kid who’ll take it home, and ready to change a life.

“Riding a bike is one of the core things people have always done as a kid,” said Variety CEO Jan Albus. “There’s a sense of normalcy, freedom and accomplishment that comes with it. A bicycle makes the world just a bit bigger.”

And what kid doesn’t deserve a bigger world.

HONORARIUMS In Honor of the cast and crew of “Anything Goes” at Stages

R. G. Acting Co.

In Honor of the Cast of “Gypsy” at Stephens College

R. G. Acting Co.

In Honor of Sue Engelhardt

Mrs. Norma Fitzwater

In Honor of David Hogan

Lockton Companies

In Honor of Jeremy Goldmeier

Ms. Gertrude Hulbert

“The happiness I saw in him that day was the greatest gift anyone could have given me.” it is with great sadness that I tell you Joseph passed away early this morning. He had gotten sick earlier this week and wasn’t able to recover. He was at home, peaceful and comfortable when he passed.

One of the highlights of the last few weeks for Joseph was going to auditions for Mary Poppins. When he was racing around the room, I hadn’t seen him smile like that in many months. Joseph had been having a tougher time over the past eight months, as his body wasn’t allowing him to do everything he used to be able to do. But boy, he really had a great time with you. Please share these thoughts with everyone who was in the audition room. They really made it special for him, and me. The happiness I saw in him that day was the greatest gift anyone could have given me.

We were so looking forward to being a part of Mary Poppins. I know it’s going to be a great and special show.

Variety, thank you for all that you have helped us with over the past 13 years, with Joseph and with his twin brother Sammy, Variety made a lot of things possible for our family. Your work is so important. Thank you for your dedication Fondly, Rebecca Goldman

In Honor of Greg Schweizer

Ms. Abigail Isom

In Honor of Dave Steward

Smart Wires, Inc.

In Honor of Dave Steward’s Birthday

Ms. Dorothy L. Willis

In Honor of Dave and Thelma Steward

Mr. and Mrs. Eric O. Pearson In Honor of Dave and Thelma Steward’s Anniversary

Mr. Alfred Brown

In Honor of Rick and Debbie Stueckel

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Fanger

MEMORIALS In Memory of Betty Wright

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Bettale Fort Dearborn Company Ms. Annette Klein Mrs. Kathy Lenz Mr. James Robertson

In Memory of Joseph Goldman

Ms. Stacey Acree Leslie and Ron Becker Joyce and Richard Becker Ms. Lizzie Berman Burton and Benita Boxerman Max and Susan Brown Dede and Bernardo Brunetti & Brunetti Language School Roger and Pat Church John and Diane Cody & The Cody Family Debbie Cohen & Ladue Early Childhood Center Mr. Mark Dana Ms. Miriam Dennis Jennifer and Jonathan Deutsch Marci and Rick Eisen Holly and Steven Elfanbaum Marjorie Fenster and Family Ms. Elizabeth Gerdiman Mr. Kenneth J. Goldman Laura and David Goldmeier Linda and Ben Goldstein Bob and Marilyn Goldwasser Ronald and Geraldine Heller Kurt and Dee Herrmann Ms. Julia J. Hoffmann Stacey Hudson Ms. Gertrude Hulbert Ms. Wendy Huss Mike James and Marilyn Cohn Audrey Jennings Sally and Eliot Katz Ms. Margie Kessler Ruth Kiem and Family Amy and Randy Knopf Krista and Daran Knuffman Harriet and Jeff Kopolow

Ms. Lisa Korenblat Joelyn and Ed Levy Ms. Marilyn S. Manne Stan and Jean Margul Mr. Steven C. Mast Ms. Susan McDonald Metropolitan Orthopedics Jay and Myrna Meyer David and Lisa Moons & The Moons Family David and Barbara Morowitz Ms. Beth Newman Mr. Daniel Plax Ms. Marisa G. Reby & The Reby Family Laura Reinders & Special School District Ladue Speech-Language Pathologists Ms. Amy Rich and Family Renee and Jack Rosen Marlene and Marvin Rosengarten Ms. Ruth Schachter Phyllis Schneider Scott, Wendy, Samantha and Jenna Shanker Ms. Sylvia Silver Ms. Sally K. Simmons Dale and Merle Singer Miriam and Steve Singer Ms. Suzanne Sloane Bill Solomon and Barbara Bianco Sharon and Irv Steinberg Dorothy Steinberg Steve and Caron Story Laura and Ron Sucher Ms. Cathy Vierse David and Corinna Warren Jeffrey and Jessica Wax Mrs. Amy S. Weinhaus & The Weinhaus Family Ms. Deborah Weinstein Mr. Alvin I. Werner Bruce and Ellen White Mrs. Kimberly D. Winters Patricia Wolkowitz Philip and Susan Wright Ms. Julie Yawitz Daniel and Shelley Zimbalist ©2015 Variety the Children’s Charity 7

Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis 2200 Westport Plaza Drive Suite 306 St. Louis, MO 63146

POSTMASTER: Return Address Service Requested

variety was honored to receive the

Variety Children’s Theatre presents

TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

October 23–25, 2015 www.touhill.org

prestigious 2015 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. “We are thrilled to be named a Top-Rated 2015 Nonprofit,” says Jan Albus, CEO Variety the Children’s Charity. The Top-Rated nonprofit award was based on the large number of positive reviews Variety received—reviews written by our volunteers, donors and clients. People posted their personal experience with Variety.

Thank you all for writing reviews and encouraging us to do more to help Variety kids. Variety is St. Louis’ best resource for kids with disabilities and their families. Variety provides medical and mobility equipment, therapy, camps and education at no cost. A child’s disability diagnosis shouldn’t financially or emotionally disable the family. Variety can help.

J. Todd Gentry, CFP®, ChFC®, CAP and Michael Chiodini Special Needs Financial Planners www.jtgentry.metlife.com This newsletter was printed by MetLife so Variety can help more families in need.

www.varietystl.org