Variety the Children's Charity of St. Louis - Variety recognizes seven exceptional agencies 11/16/06

St. Louis, MO – November 16, 2006 – Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis recognized seven outstanding children’s charities in the St. Louis area on Tuesday, when it handed out its annual Stellar Performance awards at Variety’s 40th annual Allocations Luncheon.

These awards recognize one charity in each of Variety’s seven panels: behavioral counseling, camps, clubs/community centers, day cares, hospitals, schools and special disabilities. These charities have gone above and beyond to serve children with physical and mental disabilities in this community. They are located throughout the Greater St. Louis area, spanning from Belleville to Kimmswick.

The seven charities receiving awards are Sequoia House of Florissant; PTO for Exceptional Children of Belleville; Life Skills, Cornerstone Center for Early Learning Inc. and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, all of St. Louis; United Services for the Handicapped Inc. of St. Peters; and Ride On St. Louis Inc. of Kimmswick. Variety helps these charities serve children in their own special ways.

Lori Kohrs, marketing director at United Services for the Handicapped Inc., said Variety’s grants have had a direct impact on the children in United Services’ special education program. “We’ve purchased special education and therapy equipment that we wouldn’t otherwise have,” she said. “It helps us work better with the kids and provide them with the services they need.”

Judy Brownlee, center director at Cornerstone Center for Early Learning Inc., echoed those sentiments. Cornerstone has used Variety’s funds in the past to purchase an inclusive playground for their children with special needs, and this year’s grant will be used for therapy programs. “Our goal is to have them ready and up to speed by kindergarten,” Brownlee said. “This grant makes that possible.”

Life Skills uses Variety’s grant money to help fund a Summer Adventures Club for children ages 11-17, assisting them in developing new skills in areas such as communication and self care, said Executive Director Wendy Buehler. The summer program is an inclusive club, involving children without disabilities as well. “This program would not exist without the contributions of Variety,” Buehler said.

Other charities have very specific uses for Variety funding, as well. Sequoia House will purchase educational materials, and Parent-Teacher Organization for Exceptional Children will offer scholarships for its camp programs. St. Louis Children’s Hospital, which is receiving a four-year grant of $25,000 per year, will use the money for a Daily Life Kitchen Program. Cornerstone Center will put Variety’s grant toward a therapist’s salary, United Services for the Handicapped Inc. will purchase physical and occupational therapy equipment, and Ride On St. Louis will buy equestrian equipment and music supplies to enhance therapy sessions.

These charities had a full day on Tuesday. In addition to attending Variety’s 40th annual Allocations Luncheon and receiving these awards, two representatives from each of Variety’s 90 partner agencies were invited to a free educational forum that morning. The forum featured speakers Trent Stamp, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator, and Cindy Brinkley, president of at&t Missouri.

Stamp spoke about philanthropic and fundraising trends in the Greater St. Louis area, compared with those on a national scale. He tailored his presentation to this region, bringing with him insight from an organization that evaluates more than 5,000 charities nationwide. Variety received Charity Navigator’s highest four-star rating in 2006, for the second consecutive year.

Brinkley spoke to these agency representatives about “landing, keeping and growing” corporate partnerships, sharing tips for thinking and acting like a business in considering a potential corporate sponsor’s activities, business practices and competition.

Jami Melton, coordinator of special programs for Cornerstone Center, said the forum was very helpful. Melton said she took copious notes on Brinkley’s presentation that she can’t wait to share with Cornerstone Center’s grant writers. “It was a great idea to have (the forum), and I look forward to Variety’s next one,” Melton said.

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