Upcoming Events
- 8/6/2008
- Camp Prom
- The prom starts at 6:00 p.m. with festivities throughout the day leading up to the dinner …read more...
- 8/8/2008
- Sunshine Games
- Hundreds of children to join in the 9th Annual Sunshine Games on Friday, August 8th to honor …read more...
- All Events »
Our History & Mission
On Christmas Eve in 1927, a baby was left on the doorstep of a theater company with a note attached reading:
"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 I pray to God that you will look after her."
-A Heart-Broken Mother
As a result, Variety Club International (now Variety - The Children’s Charity) was founded by the eleven entertainers who discovered Baby Catherine. Its sole purpose was to help the less fortunate and to lend a hand to various civic and charitable organizations. Variety is a not-for-profit organization that takes pride in providing programs and services to special-needs children.
Currently, Variety has over 50 tents nationally and internationally.
Our Mission
Variety – The Children’s Charity of Greater Philadelphia has been serving children with disabilities since 1935.
Our programs and services are designed to best address the children’s physical, social, medical, educational, and recreational needs without regards to economic status, race, creed, gender, or type of disability.
Variety serves children between birth and 18 with temporary and/or permanent disabilities resulting from injury, illness, or congenital conditions.





