 News & Press  2009 2008
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VARIETY OF THE DESERT NEWS & PRESS
Variety of the Desert presented the van to Candlelighters on Dec. 7 during a Bike Giveaway celebration at Palm Springs Motors, said Amy Bohrmann, executive administrator for Variety of the Desert. The group donated a van to Candlelighters nine years ago, but it is no longer functional, Bohrmann said. Courtlyn O'Grady, 10, a member of the Earhart student council, said she has relatives who use the program and saw the original bus. "It was completely run-down, and the engine barely started," she said. The Amelia Earhart students chose to raise money for the Sunshine Coach as part of their annual fundraising project. Each year, the students decide on a fundraiser to work on in November, said Cindy Stern, fifth-grade teacher and student council adviser. The student council voted for the Sunshine Coach project and set a goal of $500, Stern said. By the first week of December, the council collected $600. The students made 40 containers and gave them to every classroom, said Danielle Rudolph, 10. It took a long time to count all of those coins each week, said 10-year-old Lydia Tristan. There were many pennies and very few dollar bills, Tristan said. It would take an entire recess to count all the coins and then get the containers back to all of the classes. The drive ended the first week of December. Bailey Levine, 10, said it was an eye-opening experience. "We are luckier than other people, and we need to be grateful for that," she said. Stern said the students ultimately learned leadership skills and are setting an example for their fellow classmates. The council has another charity project in the works, Bailey said. The school will collect items for the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission starting at the end of February. (Article courtesy of mydesert.com - click
to view original article) 2008: Palm Desert, CA 11/24/2008 - Variety the Children's Charity of the Desert wraps up a year of giving with a "Bike Give-a-Way" and "Sunshine Coach" Celebration to be held at Palm Springs Motors at 10:00AM-1:00PM on Sunday, December 7th. Monies raised from November's KPLM "Care for Kids" radiothon are used to fund the Bikes for Kids and Sunshine Coach programs benefiting underprivileged children in the Coachella Valley. The Bike program is a positive re-enforcement program for disadvantaged children who try hard in school and practice good citizenship. Third through fifth grade teachers from all three area districts nominated students they considered to be positive role models in the classroom. These students will personally be awarded a new bike and helmet by Variety's radiothon donors. The Sunshine Coach program is an initiative that provides transportation for underprivileged children to and from after-school programs and special events. The program also provides specially equipped passenger vans to transport children with physical limitations to and from medical facilities, special events, and enrichment programs. Variety of the Desert awarded a 12-passenger van to the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs on May 20, 2008, which was immediately put to use transporting kids to Pathfinder Ranch summer camp. In addition to the van, Variety also presented the Boys and Girls Club with a check for $2500 to send 10 needy kids to Pathfinder Ranch summer camp. During the December 7th Celebration at Palm Springs Motors, Candlelighters will be presented with a Sunshine Coach to transport Coachella Valley youths battling cancer to Loma Linda for treatments. Additional donation recipients for November included:
Variety remains focused on supporting the Coachella Valley's underprivileged and special needs children. Palm Desert, CA, 10/06/08 – Variety, the Children's Charity of the Desert, has donated $10,000 to the McCallum Theatre Institute in support of the Aesthetic Education Program. The donation was initiated in response to California's budget cuts which have effected arts programs in our public schools. Variety's "Arts in Education" initiative supports fine arts programs serving underprivileged children in the Coachella Valley. The McCallum Theatre Institute, established in September 1997, is the education division of the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts. Developed in partnership with Lincoln Center Institute in New York, the Aesthetic Education Program (AEP) brings together professional artists from the McCallum faculty, classroom teachers, and students to deepen the understanding of themselves and the world through active involvement with live works of art. In addition to the AEP, this year's McCallum Theatre Field Trip Series will include 28 free performances of music, theatre, and dance for an estimated 37,200 school children in the Coachella Valley. Palm Desert, CA, 09/26/08 – Variety, the Children's Charity of the Desert, partnered with Regal Entertainment Group to provide the Coachella Valley's neediest schools with school supplies. The supplies were donated by Variety members and were collected at the Rancho 16 theatre. Staples stores in Palm Desert, Cathedral City and La Quinta also made generous donations of school supplies, and OfficeMax in Palm Desert donated tote bags for the schools' teachers. The donation presentation, held Monday night at the Rancho 16 Theatre, gifted three local schools as selected by their district administrations. The PSUSD school receiving school supplies was Cahuilla Elementary. DSUSD's school choice was Roosevelt Elementary. The CVUSD recipient school was Las Palmitas Elementary. Mike Williams, principal of Las Palmitas, was very appreciative and promised that the supplies would be put into the kids' hands at the start of school next week. Variety Board members presenting the supplies were Rancho 16 Theatre General Manager, Carl Killebrew; and past president, Doris Hemmer. Variety remains focused on supporting the Coachella Valley's underprivileged children. Palm Desert, CA, 06/27/08 - Variety - the Children's Charity of the Desert donated $1000 to Children's Playtime Productions on Wednesday June 25, 2008. The donation was made in support of Variety's "Arts in Education" program which funds local fine arts education initiatives. The funds will be used to help bring students to performances at the McCallum Theatre, and also to fund the touring of productions to Coachella Valley schools. This past May performances of CPP's "Peter Pan" at the McCallum Theatre were enjoyed by thousands of the Desert's children. CPP also brought the Aesop fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare" to schools in the Coachella Valley School District. Variety of the Desert supports Children's Playtime Productions endeavors in bringing theater arts to public schools. Variety's partnership with the entertainment industry extends back to the charity's roots. On Christmas Eve in 1928, a baby girl was found on a seat at the Sheridan Square Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When all efforts by the police and local newspapers failed to locate her parents, a group of eleven gentlemen affiliated with the entertainment industry agreed to financially underwrite the child's support and education. Just one year prior, these men had rented a small clubroom in the William Penn Hotel and created a social club, aptly named "Variety" given that the members encompassed various branches in show business. The child was then named Catherine Variety Sheridan, her middle name for the club and her last name for the theatre. Palm Desert, CA, 06/03/08 - Variety, the Children's Charity of the Desert donated $3000 to Regal Entertainment Group on June 2, 2008 to sponsor free family entertainment throughout the summer. The Free Family Film Festival runs Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10:00 through the summer months beginning June 17th and 18th. Each week a G-rated and PG-rated film will be shown at the Rancho 16. The festival kicks off with screenings of "Charlotte's Web" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks". Admission to the festival movies is free. Variety supports community programs benefiting underprivileged and disadvantaged children, and through Variety's Sunshine Coach initiative, underprivileged kids will be transported to see the festival films. Variety's partnership with the entertainment industry extends back to the charity's roots. On Christmas Eve in 1928, a baby girl was found on a seat at the Sheridan Square Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When all efforts by the police and local newspapers failed to locate her parents, a group of eleven gentlemen affiliated with the entertainment industry agreed to financially underwrite the child's support and education. Just one year prior, these men had rented a small clubroom in the William Penn Hotel and created a social club, aptly named "Variety" given that the members encompassed various branches in show business. The child was then named Catherine Variety Sheridan, her middle name for the club and her last name for the theatre. Variety of the Desert is proud to partner with Regal Entertainment Group in bringing free family movies to the community. Palm Desert, CA, 05/23/08 – Variety, the Children's Charity of the Desert, donated a "Sunshine Coach" to the Boy's and Girl's Club of Palm Springs on Friday, May 20 at Palm Springs Motors. Variety's president, Scott Simmers, and executive vice-president, Todd Marker, along with board member Doris Hemmer, made the presentation of the 12-passenger van to Dean Moore, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs. The Sunshine Coach" program is an initiative that provides transportation for underprivileged children to and from after-school programs and special events. The program also provides specially equipped passenger vans to transport children with physical limitations to and from medical facilities, special events, and enrichment programs. Past recipients of Variety of the Desert's Sunshine Coaches include Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation, The Boys and Girls Club of the High Desert, The Boys and Girls Club of Coachella Valley, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Family YMCA of the Desert, and the Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony. The new van will be put into service immediately, transporting kids to Pathfinder Ranch summer camp. In addition to the van, Variety also presented the Boys and Girls Club with a check for $2500 to send 10 needy kids to Pathfinder Ranch summer camp. Palm Desert, CA, 05/05/08 - Todd Marker, Executive Vice President of Variety – the Children's Charity of the Desert, presented Al and Arlene Bauers , founders of the NJTL of Coachella Valley with a check for $3000. The donation will be used to fund tennis programs for underprivileged youths. The check presentation took place at the NJTL's annual awards banquet held on Saturday, May 3,at Mission Hills Country Club. The National Junior Tennis League (N.J.T.L.) was founded by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder in 1969 for the purpose of reaching out to underprivileged youth through recreational programs and to assist in providing a strong foundation of positive attributes such as sportsmanship, self-esteem and respect. Through tennis, the organization reaches out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to play tennis, instills in youngsters the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence and gives them the opportunity to develop skills they can enjoy for a lifetime. Variety remains focused on supporting the Coachella Valley's underprivileged children. Palm Desert, CA, 03/25/08 - Gottschalks Palm Springs store partnered with Variety the Children's Charity of the Desert to bring smiles to the faces of kids from Cielo Vista Community Childcare Center for a "Kids Day" celebration. Cielo Vista Community Childcare Center provides educational intervention and childcare to low income families in Palm Springs. The children were invited to attend the March 15th festivities, which included a visit from the Easter Bunny and a goody bag. In addition they received a gift card in which to purchase new spring clothes. "It was a special day for these families," commented Susan Brister, "The smiles on the kids' faces were a mile wide." She shared the gratitude expressed from one of the mothers whose four children were beneficiaries of Kids Day; the mother tearfully told Susan that it was the first time she was able to take her kids clothes shopping with her and let them pick out their own outfits. What a joyful and memorable day it was for her and her kids! Variety continued to shower these needy kids with joy on March 20th when they presented 70 Easter baskets to the kids at the Center. The baskets were filled with healthy snacks, T-shirts, coloring books with crayons, and a plush toy. Palm Springs, CA, 02/07/2008 - On Valentine's Day, 2008 Variety the Children's Charity of the Desert will present Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of The Inland Empire with a check for $5000 and 50 Variety Compassion teddy bears. Variety Board Member and General Manager of KDFX, Barry Gorfine; and KUNA general manager, Martin Serna will make the presentation to Candlelighters. Variety the Children's Charity is dedicated to promoting and protecting the health and well-being of children around the world. Through our network of 50 Tents (or Chapters) in 14 counties, Variety reaches into communities across the globe to offer financial assistance and services to children and organizations that serve children with special needs. Through hard work, thoughtful stewardship, and single-minded focus on the needs of the young, Variety strives to make a lasting difference in the lives of children, their families, our communities, and the world...one need at a time. On November 8th, 2007, KUNA hosted a Radiothon benefiting Variety of the Desert's Compassion Fund. The fund supports efforts to transport and comfort children with cancer who travel from the Coachella Valley to Loma Linda for treatment. Variety anticipates incoming KUNA radiothon pledge revenues to provide ongoing support to our Valley's children with cancer through the Candlelighters organization.
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   Above: The Aesthetic Education Program at the McCullm Theatre Institute, supported by Variety of the Desert. Below: Kids rushing to a Variety screening event supported by Regal Cinemas. |
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STUDENT COUNCIL RAISES $600 FOR VARIETY VAN
Palm
Desert, CA 01/16/2009 - Students from Amelia Earhart
Elementary School have raised $600 for the Variety of the
Desert, a children's nonprofit agency. The money has been
used to purchase a 12-passenger van for the Candlelighters
Early Childhood Cancer Foundation of the Inland Empire. Candlelighters
uses the Sunshine Coach to transport children with cancer
to the hospital for treatments and to other activities, executive
director Armida Kersey said. The agency plans to use the
van for the first time during an event in February, Kersey
said. "It's wonderful," she said. "I've only driven it a
few times, but it is just very exciting." (Pictured above: Amelia Earhart
Student Council. Photo - Aldrich M. Tan The Indio Sun)