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80 YEARS OF HEART: Over the years, Variety has been honored by
the generous support of some of the biggest stars in the entertainment
business. As we approach our 80th Anniversary next
year, we will be looking back over the contributions
of some of these truly legendary people. (Pictured,
clockwise from top left: Cary Grant, Barbara (Mrs.
Frank) Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, HSH Princess Grace
of Monaco, Gregory Peck, Carol Channing, George Burns,
Sophia Loren, Lee Majors, Farrah Fawcett.)
The Colorado Variety Club, Tent #37 began in the Denver area in 1979.
We have been actively involved in the needs of Colorado’s children
for the past 21 years. Our commitment to raise money and awareness for
the needs of Colorado’s children has benefited the Ronald McDonald
House; Children’s Diabetes; children’s heart disease research
through The Rocky Mountain Heart Fund for Children; transportation for
children at the Street Beat Center to entertain throughout the region
and bring their message of drug and gang prevention; The Very Special
Arts Program a program for handicapped kids; a new heart and lung unit
at Children’s Hospital; and the HOPE-Columbine organization to replace
the library filled with so many tragedies at Columbine High School. We
have also undertaken fulfilling the needs of two very special young people,
one for their prosthetic needs and another to accommodate their need for
handicapped transportation. The club also hosts annual celebrations like
our summer Zoo Day and our children’s Christmas party. While Colorado
Variety Club is proud of the difference we have made in the lives of Colorado’s
children to-date, we actively continue to develop new programs and activities
to touch and change more lives.
On October 10, 1927 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, eleven young men affiliated
with show business met at the William Penn Hotel for the first meeting
of their newly formed social club. The gentlemen decided on the name "The
Variety Club" because they represented a variety of facets of the
entertainment business. The club received its official charter from the
State of Pittsburgh on October 18, 1928.
But The Variety Club’s true calling came a few months later on
Christmas Eve, 1928, when the manager of the Sheridan Square Theatre in
Pittsburgh found an infant abandoned in the theatre. The baby girl had
a note pinned to her clothing:
"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 out for her. — A Heart-Broken
Mother"
After a thorough search of the areas found no trace of the mother, the
Variety Club members agreed to act as her "Godfathers," underwriting
her support and education. In honor of the Variety Club and the Sheridan
Theatre, the baby was named "Catherine Variety Sheridan."
 Variety’s first banquet was held under a “Circus Big Top” — complete
with circus acts, sideshows, popcorn and cotton candy. The insignia for
the affair was a mustached "barker" wearing a high silk hat.
This enormously successful event was the beginning of Variety's circus
tradition: the Barker became the official logo, each chapter was called
a "Tent," its members were "Barkers," the president,
the "Chief Barker," the treasurer, "Dough Boy," and
the secretary, "Property Master."
News about the decision by Variety’s founding fathers to care
for a child captured the hearts of the community. Before long, more clothes,
food, money and toys were collected than any one child would ever need,
so Variety proposed to use the surplus to help other disadvantaged children.
From this humble beginning this small group of dedicated individuals has
grown into a multinational children's charity with chapters in 14 countries
around the world.
Catherine was adopted by a couple living outside the Pittsburgh area
and her name was changed to Joan. During her life Joan served as a U.S.
Navy officer in Korea, and as a registered nurse in Vietnam — spending
a good part of her time working with children and taking great pride in
the knowledge that she had "started it all."
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