If you have ever attended a movie in February, you’ve likely encountered Variety, the Children’s Charity. Prior to the mid 90’s, you may have seen a celebrity endorsed trailer for the charity, followed by a donation basket being passed through the audience. In more recent years, you’ve probably noted your theatre of choice selling gold, heart shaped, pins this time of year. For those who have ever wondered what this fundraising effort was all about, or why movie theatres were involved:
On Christmas Eve, 1928, an infant was discovered, abandoned, at the nursery of the Sheridan Square Theatre, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A note accompanying the child stated that the mother already had eight children and could not afford a ninth. The baby’s name was given as “Catherine” and the reason for choosing a theatre as, “I have always heard of the goodness of show business and I pray to God that you will look out for her.”
Fortunately, for Catherine, the theatre’s owner, John H. Harris, was one of eleven entertainment industry businessmen who had recently founded the Variety social club. He and his fellow Variety Club members decided that, since the infant had been entrusted to show business people, they should underwrite her financial care. Starting with that one abandoned child, who they named Catherine Variety Sheridan, the eleven businessmen began assisting other needy children; ultimately converting their local social club in to an industry wide charitable organization. In addition to long standing fund raising drives and telethons, the organization initiated the annual gold heart program in 1991; which has collected over $100 million for disabled and disadvantaged children to date.
As for Catherine; after becoming somewhat of a period celebrity, she was adopted by a couple in Long Island, New York, and renamed Joan Riker (to afford her a more normal upbringing). She went on to become a nurse and start a family of her own, before returning to the spotlight in 1980, as an ambassador for the Variety Club charity. Ms. Riker passed away in 1994, but the organization founded around her continues to support children’s charities, hospitals, and camps throughout the United States and eight other countries.
As we enter February, movie theatres across the country will once again be selling gold heart pins to raise money for Variety, the Children’s Charity. If you happen to be catching a movie during this time, consider purchasing one of the $2 pins and help make a difference in the life of a child like Catherine.
Tags: No Comments
