Variety Club began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Christmas Eve in 1928, when a baby girl named Catherine was abandoned at the Sheridan Theatre. The child was taken into the care of the theatre owner and ten friends who were part of a small social club called Variety, reflecting their various careers in show business. Publicity generated by the search for her family and support for her immediate care created a rush of donations from around the country. Catherine’s needs were soon surpassed, but Variety continued raising money for needy children.

Variety – The Children’s Charity is now an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of children around the world. Variety has over 50 chapters in 14 countries worldwide whose volunteers share the common goal of working together to benefit critically ill, disadvantaged, at-risk, abused, and special needs children. To date, Variety of Iowa has raised more than $80 million dollars for children.

Hy-Vee’s involvement with Variety began in 1983 when a coupon redemption program called “Cash for Kids” was born. Through this highly successful program, Hy-Vee raised millions of dollars for children. More recently, Variety and Iowa’s children have benefited from the Hy-Vee Classic and the Hy-Vee Triathlon.

Hy-Vee’s generosity extends well beyond the corporate dollars given to Variety. Thousands of dedicated store directors and employee owners volunteer their time and talent to Variety in many ways: manning phones and soliciting pledges during Variety’s annual telethon; donating food, water and other items for Variety fundraising events; donating bikes to underprivileged youth and providing support to children, families and charities in every community they are in.

Thanks to sponsors like Hy-Vee, Variety is able to reach out to children in endless ways:

• Renovate a neonatal intensive care nursery for critically ill infants
• Replenish the Compassion Fund, created to alleviate some of the hardships experienced by terminally ill children and their families
• Help build a respite center or a playground for special needs children
• Provide shelter and services to children who have been affected by domestic, physical or sexual abuse
• Provide positive programming for children to encourage them to avoid detrimental actions and negative behavior and lead better lives
• Fund Variety’s Mobility Programs that provide vans to children’s agencies, bikes for deserving children, specialized bikes and therapeutic equipment for special needs children, and educational and recreational trips on the Variety Trolley.

You can volunteer, donate, join Young Variety and find out more about Variety – The Children’s Charity by visiting the websites at www.varietyiowa.com and www.yviowa.org or e-mail.

To learn about the Variety international chapter, visit www.varietychildrenscharity.org.