From a humble start

							heraldsun.com.au
                                                     Variety Christmas Party                                 Advertising feature             Herald Sun, Tuesday, December 18, 2007                                              61
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                                          From a humble start                                                                            ARIETY is an international charity started by a

                                                                                                                                   V     group of theatre owners in Pittsburgh, US.
                                                                                                                                         The theatre owners used to get together after
                                                                                                                                   performances to play cards in a social club they
                                                                                                                                   called the Variety.
                                                                                                                                      One night in 1928 they heard whimpering from the
   Committed: Maureen Hafey.                                                                                                       empty Sheridan Theatre and when they investigated
                                                                                                                                   the source of the noise, they discovered an aban-
                                                                                                                                   doned baby.
   Dedicated to                                                                                                                       The baby’s mother had pinned a note to the child’s
                                                                                                                                   clothing saying that she could no longer care for her,
                                                                                                                                   but had heard that theatre people were generous
   the cause                                                                                                                       and she hoped they could look after the baby.
                                                                                                                                      A police search to find the mother failed but the
                                                                                                                                   theatre owners’ hearts had already melted.
                                                                                                                                      They took the baby in and named her Catherine
              life member Maureen
   V ARIETYgroup of women
      Hafey and a small and
   committed
                                                                                                                                   Variety Sheridan.
                                                                                                                                      They raised the money to buy items needed for her
   thought up the idea of the Variety                                                                                              care and were so successful they decided to widen
   Christmas Party for Special                                                                                                     their charity to offer help to local orphanages.
   Children.                                                                                                                          The original philosophy of not giving money, only
      Maureen, the wife of football                                                                                                goods and services, remains pivotal to this day.
                                                                                                                                      Variety branches spread throughout the entertain-
   legend Tommy Hafey, and her
                                                                                                                                   ment industry and today there are 80 worldwide.
   friends used to hand-wrap
                                                                                                                                      The charity was started in Australia in 1975 by Paul
   hundreds of gifts so disadvantaged
                                                                                                                                   Hogan, who became its first Australian chairman.
   children in the community could
                                                                                                                                      The primary goal of Variety was, and continues to
   experience the joy of Christmas.                                                                                                be, providing special-needs children with opportun-
      Now it takes hundreds of men                                                                                                 ities to increase their quality of life and fulfil their
   and women working tirelessly to                                                                                                 potential.
   ensure that thousands of these                                                                                                     Variety believes that by giving special-needs
   special children have something                                                                                                 children the means to improve their quality of life, it
   wonderful to smile about at                                                                                                     will help them fulfil their potential.
   Christmas.                                                                                                                         It achieves this by providing equipment, facilities
      Variety is also very appreciative                                                                                            and life experiences, and by operating a straightfor-
   of the many sponsors involved in                                                                                                ward and transparent grants program that draws on
   the event. Without the support of                                                                                               the funds raised through events, sponsorships and
   Victorians and the Victorian                                                                                                    donations.
   business community, they would                                                                                                     Variety has achieved these goals through supply-
   not be able to hold such an event.                                                                                              ing items including Sunshine coaches, Liberty
      A certificate of appreciation is                                                                                             wheelchair swings, wheelchairs, walking frames,
   issued to all sponsors and Variety                                                                                              Second Skin splints and Braille and Dynavox speech
   asks all Victorians to support the                                                                                              machines.
                                                                                                                                   People or organisations interested in the work that Variety does with




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   businesses who supported them.         Fun day: the primary goal of Variety is providing special-needs children with            sick, disabled or disadvantaged children, or those wanting to
                                          opportunities to increase their quality of life and fulfil their potential.              volunteer, can visit www.varietyvic.org.au or phone 8698 3900.




   From Victoria s Special Needs Children



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       C M Y K
                                                                                             A Big Thank You!
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                                                                                             Thank You Again Victoria!                                                                                                                             +