Variety Club of Buffalo

Variety, The Children's Charity of Buffalo and Western New York, Tent #7 works year round to raise money for the sick and handicapped children of Buffalo and Western New York. Our primary beneficiaries are the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, The Dr. Robert Warner, M.D Center for Children with Special Needs and multiple other Children's Charities in the Western New York Region. 

Variety, The Children's Charity was established in Pittsburgh, PA on October 10, 1927 when a group of eleven men started a social club called the Variety Club. On Christmas Eve, 1928, a baby was left on the steps of their meeting place, the Sheridan Theatre with a note attached to her blanket which read:

"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 peopled pray to god that you will look after her.  Signed, a Heartbroken Mother." 

The eleven men adopted the girl as their "goddaughter" and named her Catherine Variety Sheridan. These eleven godfathers took it upon themselves to raise funds for her health, well-being and education. Soon after, they began raise funds for other underprivileged children.

Variety, The Children's Charity of Buffalo and Western New York, Tent #7, was chartered on May 12, 1934 to raise funds and purchase medical equipment for sick and handicapped children in the Buffalo area. Such equipment included iron lungs, wheelchairs, leg braces and an electroencephalograh for the Children's Hospital of Buffalo. This electroencephalograph was the only one of its kind between New York City and Chicago. 

The annual Variety Club Telethon began in 1962 when Dr. Robert Warner approached the Variety Club about wanting to create a rehabilitation center for children with special needs. Since then, The Variety Club Telethon has been broadcast every year as the primary fundraiser for the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation of the Variety Club of Buffalo.

Multiple Events are held each year to help raise funds for the children of Variety. Dinner and cocktail parties are are held and supported by the Variety Club Women. Other events including a Cruise Night, Car Raffle, Polar Bear Swim and Meat Raffles are held to help us reach out goal. 

All of our yearly events culminate with the annual Variety Kids Telethon, held at the Adams Mark Hotel in Downtown Buffalo, NY in March. The telethon is broadcast yearly, from 7am-7pm, on WKBW TV/DT Channel 7.