Canadian Film Digest (Dec 1976)

VARIETY CLUB It's the largest children’s charity in the world. The Toronto branch handed out close to half a million dollars this past year. And showbiz people form its heart. But most of us are only dimly aware of the name and even less aware of what this organization does. It's called the Variety Club. No, that’s not the CBC hangout of ill repute on Jarvis Street. This Variety Club is devoted to raising and distributing generous donations of money, time and resources for the aid of needy children. Last May the Toronto branch, a 27-year member of the organization, played host to 1150 delegates at Variety International’s 49th Annual Convention. The only other Canadian chapter, Vancouver-based Variety Club of Western Canada, was also in the limelight this year as winner of the coveted Heart Award for outstanding contributions to the work of Variety. The original Variety Club was founded in 1928 in Pittsburgh through an accident of history that unfolds like something out of a vaudeville melodama. Baby girl in a wicker basket is abandoned on the doorstep of the Sheridan Theatre with a heart-rending message pinned to her dress. Eleven theatre men who congregate nightly for a chat and some bubbly after the show spend that evening’s session discussing the dilemma. They decide to take up the challenge, adopt the child, and form an organization to carry on further charity work for children. 52 canadian film digest by LINDA WEST They call their new organization the Variety Club because of the various phases of the amusement industry in which they are engaged. They select a circus Barker as their insignia and pattern their directorate on a circus theme: Chief Barker as President; Dough Guy as Treasurer; Property Master as Secretary; and Crew as the club Board of Directors. And so the first Tent was formed. There are now 56 Tents scattered around the world. Toronto joined the scene in 1949, coming in as Tent 28. Jim Cameron, one of the founders of the club’s key project, Variety Village for handicapped children, became Tent 28’s first executive director eight months ago, an indication that Variety Club’s activities have become big business requiring full-time attention and continuity of administration. Until Cameron’s appointment, secretary/administrator Margaret Harrison had carried the full load of office duties. All other positions are volunteer, including the committee which organizes the annual Bike-A-Thon, Variety Club’s chief fund-raising vehicle. The Bike-AThon idea started four years ago. In 1976 the event covered five courses and brought in over $280,000, according to Dough Guy Syd Koffman. For the spring of 1977 eight courses are planned and an income close to $400,000 is expected. Another major fund-raising activity is the annual $100-a-plate gourmet dinner which this year netted around $25,000. A good chunk of Henry Antolic who cranked his tricyclewheelchair for three miles to contribute more than $27 to Variety Club’s 1975 Bike-A-Thon fund. revenue also comes from the regular bingo games held in three movie theatres in Toronto for which Variety Club is the sole recipient charity. Altogether the 1976 coffers of Tent 28 will take in more than $600,000. On the outgoing side, $450,540 has already been allocated with new projects continually coming up for approval, Variety Village is Tent 28’s namesake project. It was initated in the founding year of the club and has received the main thrust of its attention throughout the last 27 years. In that time some 300 physically handicapped students have graduated from the Variety Village training program. Three courses are offered — vocational, watch-making and commercial. It was Jim Cameron who suggested the first watch repair course and promoted the necessary jewellers benches and tools from the Bulova Watch Co. To this day, Bulova still guarantees a job for any graduate of the program. Variety Village ran on a budget of about $110,000 this year. The Hospital for Sick Children is another beneficiary of substantial Variety Club support. Over the past two years Tent 28 has undertaken a major commitment of $300,000 to the hospital’s Catheterization Laboratory. Another $25,000 is being used to promote research into the crib death syndrome. Other monies spent in 1976 include: $25,000 to help establish a dental clinic in Bloorview Hospital for Crippled Children; $35,000 [>