Variety of Great Britain

Variety Club of Great Britain Tent 36 was formed in 1949 by Robert S. Wolff, chairman of RKO, who became the Club's first Chief Barker, and C.J. Latta of ABC Cinemas/Warner Brothers. Since then, Variety Club has consisted of a formidable array of charitable individuals and companies, all of whom eager to donate their time and services to improve the lives of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.

The work of Variety Club ranges from providing Sunshine Coaches and funding major hospital appeals to providing basic items that will improve the lives of individual children.
 
Variety Club of Great Britain has raised over £170 million net, making a great impact on children's lives:

* £3 million to build and improve the Variety Club Children's Hospital at King's College Hospital in London

* £250,000 to St George's Hospital in Tooting to help open a new intensive care ward

* 4,000 Sunshine Coaches and 3,000 Easy Riders electric wheelchairs
 
In addition to electric wheelchairs, specialist beds, car seats, sensory equipment, standing frames and many other items are donated that change the lives of children in need.

Every Christmas, over 3,000 toys are given to children who would otherwise have no present of any kind, and we entertain more than 100,000 youngsters each year at a wide range of exciting venues.

Throughout the country Variety Club is represented by regional committees, all raising funds, and holding events for disadvantaged and disabled children in their areas. They are run largely by volunteers from many walks of life as well as with a small, high-quality team of employees based in London.

Variety Club also has its own Golfing Society where business people, sponsors and celebrities enjoy the game while raising more than £1 million towards the Sunshine Coach program each year.

Our volunteers’ hard work, generosity of time and money, along with support from a galaxy of celebrities from show business and sport, helps to ensure that at least 90p in every £1 raised goes straight to benefit the children.

The Variety Club of Great Britain’s Gold Heart Appeal has raised over £16 million since its inception in 1991.  In 2007, it joined forces with Mr. Men and Little Miss. There are four adorable Mr. Men & Little Miss Gold Hearts to collect: Mr. Happy, Little Miss Naughty, Mr. Tickle and Little Miss Sunshine. Each comes with a soft collectable toy. Downloads of your favorite Mr. Men or Little Miss wallpaper or screensaver are also available.

Above: Badges were sold in retailers across the UK and the campaign was launched
with a special Mr. Men and Little Miss tea party at Harrods in February 2007.