VARIETY THE CHILDRENS CHARITY OF ST LOUIS
11840 WESTLINE INDUSTRIAL DRIVE SUITE 220, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63146 www.varietystl.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: VARIETY EMPOWERS CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BY GIVING ACCESS TO CRITICAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND THERAPIES, ALONG WITH INNOVATIVE CAMP AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, SOCIALIZATION, AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. CHILDREN GAIN OR MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE, BOOST SOCIALIZATION AMONG THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, DEMONSTRATE BELIEF IN THEMSELVES, AND INCREASE SKILLS THEY NEED TO ENGAGE THEIR WORLD AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE. VARIETY ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE ABILITIES ARE REDEFINED AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE REIMAGINED FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO FAMILIES.

TO HELP LOCAL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY PROVIDING THEM WITH SERVICES EVERY TIME THEY NEED ASSISTANCE.

EQUIPMENT - VARIETY PROVIDES MEDICALLY PRESCRIBED EQUIPMENT TO HELP EACH CHILD REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. THESE INCLUDE AIDS TO ENHANCE MOBILITY (WHEELCHAIRS, ADAPTIVE BEDS, VAN LIFTS, ORTHOTICS) AND COMMUNICATION (HEARING AIDS, AUGMENTATIVE SPEECH DEVICES INCLUDING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS), AS WELL AS AIDS FOR THERAPY (THERAPEUTIC BIKES, SENSORY EQUIPMENT). VARIETY PROVIDED 439 PIECES OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO 330 CHILDREN IN FISCAL YEAR 2020. THIS EQUIPMENT WAS UTILIZED BY THE CHILDREN FOR OVER 1.7 MILLION HOURS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. THE GOAL FOR PROVIDING EQUIPMENT IS TO INCREASE THE CHILD'S DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE AT HOME/FAMILIAR SETTINGS AS WELL AS AWAY FROM HOME AND IN SETTINGS LESS FAMILIAR. WITH THE PROVISION AND USE OF THIS EQUIPMENT, 84% OF VARIETY CHILDREN SURVEYED REPORTED AN INCREASE IN INDEPENDENCE. 62% OF THE VARIETY CHILDREN USE THE EQUIPMENT FOR AT LEAST 16 HOURS DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN EVERY DAY IMPACT.

EDUCATION. PERFORMING ARTS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS, VARIETY THEATRE IS THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES PRODUCING A CLASSIC BROADWAY MUSICAL EACH YEAR THAT FEATURES A CHILDREN'S ENSEMBLE COMPRISED OF CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES INCLUDING THOSE WITH PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THIS AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES VARIETY TEEN INTERNS WHO ARE MENTORED BY THE DESIGNERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE SHOW. 29 CHILDREN PERFORMED ON STAGE IN THE 2020 PRODUCTION OF MARY POPPINS ALONG WITH PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND A 16 PIECE PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. 16 VARIETY INTERNS WORKED BACKSTAGE LEARNING THE VITAL PRODUCTION STAGE CRAFT SKILLS NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL SHOW. VARIETY'S PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT ALSO OFFERS 3 CHORAL AND 2 DANCE PROGRAMS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. 45 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN JUNIOR CHORUS, SENIOR CHORUS, AND EVERYBODY SINGS THIS PAST YEAR AND 36 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE CLASSES. IN ADDITION, EACH YEAR VARIETY OFFERS CURTAIN UP - A SUMMER THEATRICAL CAMP FOR KIDS AND TEENS FOR THOSE PREPARING FOR THE FALL BROADWAY MUSICAL PRODUCTION. ANNUALLY A SURVEY IS USED TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THEATER PARTICIPATION ON SKILLS NEEDED BY THE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO ENGAGE AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION THAT PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS PROVIDE. 87% OF THESE CHILDREN IMPROVED IN THEIR ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND ENGAGE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT AT HOME, IN SCHOOL AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY. VARIETY CHORUSES HAVE PERFORMED AT VENUES IN THE REGION SUCH AS THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL AND THE STIFEL OPERA HOUSE FOR "DINNER WITH THE STARS." NATIONALLY THEY HAVE PERFORMED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN D.C. ALL CLASSES, REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES ARE OFFERED FREE OF COST TO THE FAMILIES. EDUCATION - RESOURCE CENTER - THE EMERSON RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY EDUCATION. THESE OPPORTUNITIES RANGE FROM THE COMPLEXITIES OF CONFERENCES TO THE SIMPLICITY OF INFORMING FAMILIES OF ONLINE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. EVERY FALL VARIETY INVITES A NATIONAL SPEAKER TO PRESENT AT THE FAMILY EDUCATION CONFERENCE AND FUNDS SMALLER WORKSHOPS THROUGH THE YEAR AS NEED ARISES. THE EMERSON RESOURCE CENTER FUNDS TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETERS FOR FAMILIES FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, AS WELL AS TRANSLATION OF VARIETY WEB PAGES. BECAUSE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED, THE RESOURCE CENTER FUNDS A VARIETY ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNSHIP FOR A VARIETY YOUNG ADULT EACH SUMMER. VARIETY HAS ESTABLISHED A FAMILY COUNCIL THAT IS COMPRISED OF 15 VARIETY FAMILIES THAT MEET MONTHLY GUIDING VARIETY PROGRAMMING TO MEET PRACTICAL, SOCIAL AND EXPERIENTIAL NEEDS OF VARIETY CHILDREN. LASTLY, VARIETY PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE LISTS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ONLINE EDUCATIONAL/ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES.

RECREATION - VARIETY ADVENTURE CAMP IS UNIQUE AS IT IS THE ONLY CAMP IN THE REGION SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND ACCEPT CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED DISABILITIES. OPEN TO CHILDREN AGES 4-16, THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A MULTIPLE WEEK DAY-CAMP EXPERIENCE OVER THE SUMMER WITH AN ADDITIONAL SESSION OVER WINTER BREAK. ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE CAMPERS CONFIDENCE BY CHALLENGING THEM TO TRY NEW EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING SWIMMING, ROCK CLIMBING, BASEBALL, ICE SKATING, AND MANY OTHERS. ADVENTURE CAMP PAIRS COUNSELORS WITH VARIETY CHILDREN IN ONE-ON-ONE ACTIVITY COMPANIONSHIP, PLACING EMPHASIS ON THE INDIVIDUAL CHILD AS THE FOCUS OF THE CAMP. THIS ALLOWS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH VARIETY CHILD TO IMPROVE THEIR SOCIALIZATION SKILLS, A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, VARIETY QUICKLY DEVELOPED AN ONLINE VIRTUAL PLATFORM TO ACTIVATE CAMP FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020. 182 VARIETY CHILDREN ATTENDED THE VIRTUAL SUMMER SESSIONS OF CAMP, PARTICIPATING IN OVER 5,600 HOURS OF INNOVATIVE CAMP PROGRAMMING, AND 124 VARIETY CHILDREN ATTENDED THE WINTER BREAK SESSION. A TEEN TRACK IS OFFERED TO OLDER CHILDREN, AGES 14-20, WHICH INCLUDES AGE APPROPRIATE ADVENTURE CAMP ACTIVITIES PLUS ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT/PRACTICE OF THEIR SOCIALIZATION SKILLS. THE IMPACT OF ADVENTURE CAMP IS EVIDENT AS 90% OF CAMPERS SURVEYED DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY HAD GAINED THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO ENGAGE AND EXPERIENCE THEIR WORLD AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE; WITH 88% OF CHILDREN HAVING INITIATED FRIENDSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS THAT IMPROVED THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS.

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