VARIETY THE CHILDRENS CHARITY OF ST LOUIS

CORE PROGRAM: EQUIPMENT - MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ENCOMPASSES A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICALLY PRESCRIBED ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY WITH AN EQUALLY WIDE RANGE OF BENEFITS. THESE VITAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT INCREASE A CHILD'S MOBILITY (WHEELCHAIRS, STANDERS, WALKERS, ORTHOTICS) AS WELL AS IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES (HEARING AIDS AND COMMUNICATION DEVICES). THE HIGH COSTS AND INADEQUATE INSURANCE COVERAGE MAKE THESE TOOLS UNAFFORDABLE AND INACCESSIBLE FOR FAMILIES SO VARIETY PROVIDES THIS VITAL EQUIPMENT TO CHILDREN WHOSE NEEDS WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNMET. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, VARIETY SERVED 421 CHILDREN AND PROVIDED 572 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. THIS EQUIPMENT WAS UTILIZED BY CHILDREN FOR OVER 2.4 MILLION HOURS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. 98% OF VARIETY CHILDREN SURVEYED REPORTED THEY HAD GAINED SKILLS THEY NEED TO ENGAGE AND EXPERIENCE THEIR WORLD AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM: RECREATION - VARIETY ADVENTURE CAMP FEATURES A SIX-WEEK LONG INNOVATIVE AND ACCESSIBLE CAMP PROGRAM IN THE SUMMER AND A WEEKLONG SESSION IN THE WINTER. ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION (ACA), THE CAMPS ARE OPERATED FOR CHILDREN AGES 4- 20 WITH PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT WITH PEERS, CLASSMATES, AND FAMILY, TO DEVELOP CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITIES, AND TO DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE BELIEF IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR POSSIBILITIES. CAMPERS RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FROM SPECIALLY TRAINED COUNSELORS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS THEY LEARN NEW SKILLS, SUCH AS ROCK CLIMBING, BASKETBALL, TENNIS, COOKING, MUSIC, ART, BICYCLING, ICE-SKATING, AND FISHING WHILE SOCIALIZING WITH THEIR PEERS AND MAKING LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. STEM CURRICULUM WAS EXPANDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO INCLUDE ROBOTICS WITH MULTIPLE TYPES OF ROBOTS TO ACCOMODATE VARYING ABILITIES AND BUILD CURIOUSITY, PROBLEM SOLVING AND CONFIDENCE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. A TOTAL OF 367 VARIETY CHILDREN ATTENDED CAMP IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, PARTICIPATING IN OVER 16,260 HOURS OF INNOVATIVE AND ENGAGING CAMP PROGRAMMING. THE IMPACT OF ADVENTURE CAMP IS EVIDENT AS 96% OF CAMPERS SURVEYED DEMONSTRATED AN INCREASE IN SELF-ESTEEM AT HOME, SCHOOL OR IN THE COMMUNITY; WITH 92% OF CHILDREN HAVING INITIATED FRIENDSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS THAT IMPROVED THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS.