three cheers for our volunteers! Variety - the Children’s Charity 4300 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, BC V5C 6C6 Toll free: 1.800.381.2040 Office: 604.320.0505 Registered Charity #108168709 variety.bc.ca @varietybc.ca @VarietyBC @VarietyBC This summer brought a busy event season for Variety BC and the commitment and dedication of our volunteers is key to the success of these events. We are privileged that many individuals and groups offer their time and talents to Variety year-round. In the summer especially, volunteerism is the driving force behind our fundraisers and offers ample opportunities for volunteers to give back to families in their communities. Samantha, a corporate volunteer from Teekay Shipping Corporation, offered her perspective of this year’s Boat for Hope in Vancouver: “Each year I look forward to volunteering at the Boat for Hope event. The kids return from their pirate adventure on the high seas with huge smiles on their faces. The parents and caregivers of these children are always so thankful but I always say to them what we do is nothing compared to what they need to do to take care of their children and the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives.” - Samantha Heng, Teekay Shipping Corporation We believe that working as a team means bigger and better results. We’re so grateful to work with over 3000 volunteers each year who offer us their hands and hearts to help us help kids. Volunteer with us or get your team involved at variety.bc.ca/get-involved Boat for Hope Kelowna Photo Credit: Tom Cooper Your monthly gift allows Variety to take a planned, long- term approach to making a lasting impact in children’s lives and ensures we are always there when families need us. “Kalenna has been doing great! When she started in speech therapy at age 6.5, she had only six words but since receiving funding from Variety, which allows us to hire the therapist she needs, she is speaking in full sentences. Two years ago we were learning sign language because we thought she was not going to be able to talk but now she contributes in class discussions, goes alone on play dates with friends and confidently joins summer camps and participates fully (where before she would have held back and been shy).” - Natasha, Kalenna’s Mom Kalenna Visit variety.bc.ca/donate-now or phone us at 1.800.381.2040 and we’ll help sign you up! become a monthly donor Meet Esabella, a talented 12-year-old passionate about cooking, baking, tap dancing, swimming and acting. She lives in Vancouver with her family and enjoys exploring her talents in the city’s film industry. Variety provided a bursary grant for Esabella this past year so she can reach her full potential at school. Esabella was entering into Grade 2 when she had a Psychoeducational Assessment and was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. To help with her learning, she would often be taken out of the main classroom to work one-to-one with a teacher. As her peers began to notice, Esabella became the target of bullying. When the bullying continued, Esabella’s parents pulled her from school in the spring of Grade 5. Luckily, they found Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School (KGMS) that offers alternative education for students with learning differences. It was the day after Spring Break when Esabella started at KGMS and it was the first time that her parents saw her happy and looking forward to going back to school. Her first comments were that she belonged there. After seeing such a remarkable change in Esabella, her parents wanted her to continue attending KGMS. With the help of Variety’s tuition bursary, it was possible for Esabella to stay enrolled. She is now entering Grade 8 and is happier, more confident and has found her extended family through the school. “It has made a HUGE difference. Esabella was bullied at her old school and now she feels like she belongs. Variety has made it possible for Esabella to learn in a safe environment. She is also at a school where she can focus on activities that inspire her and give her confidence, like piano, tap dancing and acting. Thank you so much for giving us the support we need! You have made school fun again for Esabella. 90% of the kids who go to Esabella’s school have been bullied previously. They all now feel safe and can have fun learning. Thank you so much for giving our daughter the opportunity to be a happy kid again.” – Michael, Esabella’s Dad Esabella just completed three short films and she is currently working on her own short film with an all-female crew. She continues to manage her dyslexia and ADHD and is able to easily learn and memorize all her lines in the scripts. She continues to build confidence and recently passed her first Royal Conservatory Piano Exam. Way to go, Esabella! meet esabella - a rising star inspire variety’s newsletter fall 2018 “(your support) has made a huge difference. esabella was bullied at her old school and now she feels like she belongs.”