Variety The Childrens Charity Of St Louis

VARIETY EMPOWERS CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, THERAPY AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS.

CORE PROGRAM: EQUIPMENT - MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ENCOMPASSES A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICALLY PRESCRIBED EQUIPMENT WITH AN EQUALLY WIDE RANGE OF BENEFITS. THESE VITAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT INCREASE A CHILD'S MOBILITY (WHEELCHAIRS, STANDERS, WALKERS, ORTHOTICS) AS WELL AS IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES (HEARING AIDS AND COMMUNICATION DEVICES). THE HIGH COSTS AND INADEQUATE INSURANCE COVERAGE MAKE THESE TOOLS UNAFFORDABLE AND INACCESSIBLE FOR FAMILIES SO VARIETY PROVIDES THIS VITAL EQUIPMENT TO CHILDREN WHOSE NEEDS WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNMET. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, VARIETY SERVED AN ALL-TIME RECORD NUMBER OF CHILDREN (375 - A 15% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR) AND PROVIDED AN ALL-TIME RECORD NUMBER OF PIECES OF EQUIPMENT (526 - AN 8% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR). THIS EQUIPMENT WAS UTILIZED BY CHILDREN FOR OVER 2.1 MILLION HOURS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. 78% OF VARIETY CHILDREN SURVEYED REPORTED AN INCREASE IN INDEPENDENCE AT HOME OR IN FAMILIAR SETTINGS AS WELL AS AWAY FROM HOME OR IN SETTINGS LESS FAMILIAR.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM: RECREATION - VARIETY ADVENTURE CAMP FEATURES A SIX-WEEK LONG INNOVATIVE AND ACCESSIBLE CAMP PROGRAM IN THE SUMMER AND A WEEKLONG SESSION IN THE WINTER. THE CAMPS ARE OPERATED FOR CHILDREN AGES 4- 20 WITH PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT WITH PEERS, CLASSMATES, AND FAMILY, TO DEVELOP CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITIES, AND TO DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE BELIEF IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR POSSIBILITIES. CAMPERS RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FROM SPECIALLY TRAINED COUNSELOR AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS THEY LEARN NEW SKILLS, SUCH AS ROCK CLIMBING, BASKETBALL, TENNIS, COOKING, MUSIC, ART, BICYCLING, ICE-SKATING, FISHING, AND ROBOTICS WHILE SOCIALIZING WITH THEIR PEERS AND MAKING LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. A TOTAL OF 213 VARIETY CHILDREN ATTENDED CAMP IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, PARTICIPATING IN OVER 11,000 HOURS OF INNOVATIVE AND ENGAGING CAMP PROGRAMMING. THE IMPACT OF ADVENTURE CAMP IS EVIDENT AS 91% OF CAMPERS SURVEYED DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY HAD GAINED SKILLS THEY NEED TO ENGAGE AND EXPERIENCE THEIR WORLD AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE; WITH 89% OF CHILDREN HAVING INITIATED FRIENDSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS THAT IMPROVED THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022, VARIETY LAUNCHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA TO CREATE A VENTURING CREW FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AGES 14-20. PARTICIPANTS LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, PURSUE THIER SPECIAL INTERESTS TO BECOME GOOD CITIZENS, INCREASE SOCIALIZATION SKILLS AND HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN AND GROW IN A SUPPORTIVE, CARING AND FUN ENVIRONMENT BY ORGANIZING, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES.

CORE PROGRAM: THERAPY - THERAPY IS CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN TO IMPROVE STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND MOBILITY, WHILE ALSO INCREASING THEIR LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE AT HOME AND SCHOOL. VARIETY ENSURES THAT CHILDREN WHO NEED PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH, AQUA OR HIPPOTHERAPY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS REGULAR SESSIONS, AND THAT COST DOES NOT PREVENT A CHILD FROM RECEIVING THIS CARE SO IMPORTANT TO THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, VARIETY LAUNCHED VIRTUAL THERAPY AS AN OPTION IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON TREATMENT. THIS OPTION OFFERS ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY FOR FAMILIES ALREADY BUSY TRAVELING TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS, SCHOOL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, VARIETY PROVIDED AN ALL-TIME RECORD OF 3,617 THERAPY SESSIONS (28% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR) TO 202 CHILDREN, WHICH ALSO REFLECTS RECORD GROWTH OF 29% MORE CHILDREN SERVED. PARENTS REPORTED THAT 92% OF VARIETY CHILDREN RECEIVING THERAPY DEMONSTRATED BELIEF IN THEMSELVES, THEIR ABILITIES, AND THEIR POSSIBILITIES AND 87% GAINED OR MAINTAINED THEIR INDEPENDENCE AT HOME, SCHOOL, OR IN THE COMMUNITY.