The Heart of the Entertainment Capital of the World

Las Vegas' connection to the growth of the entertainment industry is a story that, to say the least, has been well told. So well told in fact that entertainment and Las Vegas have become synonymous; a brand one and the same.

Somewhere lost in that story, but certainly not forgotten, is the role Variety The Children's Charity has played in the transformation of our small show business and gambling town into the caring and vibrant community we call home today. It was Variety that ushered in educational opportunities for children with disabilities in Southern Nevada in 1952. It was Variety that made daycare possible for many local low income families who otherwise would have compromised childcare in order to work. It was, and still is, Variety that brightens the lives of Valley children every day by offering mobility equipment and transportation that makes it possible for all children to enjoy being a kid.

But Variety didn't do it alone. The very same entertainers and influential citizens who made Las Vegas the Entertainment Capital of the World also held Variety very close to their hearts. Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, Jack Benny, Red Skelton and Ed Sullivan where just a few of the legendary entertainers who contributed to Variety's rich history of giving in Southern Nevada. In 1952, legendary newspaperman Hank Greenspun wrote of Variety, "Tent 39 will soon embark on another great project, to better the lives of the less privileged young of Las Vegas. These men do not set on their laurels but immediately go on to greater things. Such is the creed of Variety."

In 1959, it was Variety, with the help of actresses Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford, that staged the very first event at the Las Vegas Convention Hall. Legendary Las Vegans M.B. Dalitz and Jackie Gaughan once held the charity's top position of Chief Barker, and master magician Lance Burton actively serves as an international ambassador for Variety.

Variety is affectionately known throughout the world as The Heart of Show Business; a title that is nowhere better represented than here in Southern Nevada. When Variety came to Las Vegas in 1950 to build and staff a school for children with disabilities, little could its founders have realized that their act of kindness would spark a tradition of caring and goodwill that continues strongly to this day.

The Gold Heart Awards Gala is an opportunity to bring together Las Vegas' most influential citizens for an evening dedicated to celebrating the past achievements of Variety and its contributors. It is also a time to usher in a new era of hope and support for children in our community who need it most. As the story of Las Vegas continues unfold, and entertainment plays an even larger role in shaping our community's identity, Variety will remain at its heart. Hank Greenspun, speaking of Variety, as he often did, put it best when he said, "Give a little love to a child and you get a great deal back." Our community is living proof of that.

"Please take care of my baby. Her name is Catherine. I can no longer take care of her. I have eight others. My husband is out of work. She was born on Thanksgiving Day. I have always heard of the goodness of show business and 1 pray to God that you will look out for her. "

It was this note, attached to an abandoned child in a Pittsburgh movie theater in 1928, that has been responsible for more than $1.5 billion in aid raised for neglected children worldwide. When a group of 11 men affiliated with show business agreed to financially underwrite the care of that baby girl, Variety International, known as the "Heart of Show Business," began. Variety now spans the globe with thousands of members and volunteers organized into more than 50 chapters in 14 countries, all with one strikingly simple mission: To improve the quality of life for children with special needs.

Variety The Children's Charity of Southern Nevada was founded in 1950 with a goal to
build and staff what would be the first school in Southern Nevada for children with special needs. Nearly 60 years later, Variety continues to support the Variety School for Special Education and was vital to the construction and continued success of the Variety Early Learning Center and John F. Miller School. Because of Variety's past and continued influence in Southern Nevada, thousands of children have been blessed with much needed medical and educational support. But when you're a kid, going to school and the doctor are far less important than riding a bike and playing at the park.

Variety understands the importance of childhood and has tailored its services to offer parents of children with disabilities a chance to not only satisfy their child's demanding educational and medical needs, but also allow their child the priceless, yet simple, pleasures of being a kid. Here's how:

Kids on the Go! Program
The Kids on the Go! Mobility Program provides assistance to children who dream of being able to participate in childhood activities but, due to no fault of their own, are unable. Through prosthetic limbs, walkers, wheelchairs, adaptive bikes, and anything else necessary to achieve equal access, Kids on the Go! gives kids the spark of confidence needed to go out and follow their dreams.

Through the Kids on the Go! Program, Variety has donated hundreds of custom hikes to children in Southern Nevada, giving them the chance to experience the unmatched freedom that comes with their first set of "wheels."

Kids at Play! Program
Imagine a neighborhood void of parks and playgrounds. Worse yet, imagine a community full of parks and recreational opportunities... for everyone else but you. Children with severe physical disabilities are often forced to stay home because playground equipment is not equipped to compensate for their limitations.

Through the Kids at Play! Program, ADA-accessible playgrounds and swings bring the homebound child outdoors, integrating them with the community they live in. Complete with padded fencing, wheelchair swings and park benches, parents can enjoy a day outside their home while their child gets to play like, and with, other kids.

Sunshine Coach Program
Due in large part to its successful relationship with the Ford Motor Company, Variety has been able to help many "mission fit" not-for-profits meet the transportation needs of the children they serve through the Sunshine Coach Program.

Sunshine Coaches are wheelchair-accessible vans donated to worthy local organizations for transportation to therapy, treatment, special events and enrichment programs. There are currently 45 Sunshine Coaches on Southern Nevada's roads, providing moving billboards of goodwill for their generous sponsors and "miles of smiles" to their passengers.