OUR 40TH BIRTHDAY Helping Aussie kids be kids since 1975 2015 marks a great milestone for Variety - 40 years of helping Aussie kids in need! From its beginnings in 1975, Variety - the Children's Charity has established itself as an iconic Australian institution, making a real difference to the lives of thousands of Aussie kids who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs. In this, our 40th year, we're proud to say that in the last financial year, Variety NSW granted equipment and services to the value of over $3.1 million, which directly impacted the lives of 27, 912 NSW kids in need, helping them overcome whatever obstacles they faced, enabling them to live life to the fullest. Variety – the Children’s Charity is a about in the community, be able to national not-for-profit organisation communicate, achieve independence committed to empowering Australian and increase self-esteem, and where children who are sick, disadvantaged possible the assistance to help them or have special needs to to live, laugh be integrated into mainstream school and learn. and activities. Variety’s work allows children to gain Simply put, we HELP KIDS BE KIDS. mobility and freedom, to get out and TENT 56 40 years of milestones Variety donates • $250,000 to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for the creation of their Limb Clinic. Variety’s volunteers The first staff member celebrate raising $1M Regional Committees • setup in every mainland is employed for the in annual revenue for capital city of Australia. Tent 56 office. the first time. 1980-83 1983 1985 1975 1980 1984-85 1988 Variety Australia (Tent 56) Ladies of Variety (LOV) The Variety Bash is created Tent 56 moves into • established in Sydney. established. when Dick Smith invites its new home in his business friends for Rozelle, Sydney. First LOV Children’s • a “drive in the bush” Christmas Party held to fundraise for Variety. in Sydney. The following year Tent 56 administrates the event Derryn Hinch sketches • and it raises $225,000. an idea for a logo So begins the most for Variety Australia successful event in representing the heart the world of Variety. of show business and our caring for children which is adopted by Variety in Australia. Tent 56 changes its Variety celebrates • • name from Variety the 30th anniversary Australia to Variety of the Bash – raising NSW in anticipation $2.25M in NSW and of new independent $8.17M nationally this Tents (branches) being year and bringing total established in each funds raised to some Australian State and $200M. Territory. Variety NSW (Tent 56) • The Infectious Diseases A founder of Tent 56, celebrates granting • Ward at the new Grahame Mapp, becomes over $3.1million to Westmead Children’s the first Australian help some 27,000 Hospital is sponsored International President children throughout by Variety. of Variety. the year. 1994 2007 2014 1993 2004 2013 Woolworths sponsors Variety International adopts Variety NSW (Tent 56) the Variety Gold Heart Australia’s logo for all Tents moves to new Campaign which raises throughout the world, and headquarters in Artarmon. $1.1M. changes the name of the Variety Club to Variety - the Children’s Charity. Intro MILESTONES concept - HERO Image (REX PHILIPS PHOTO) and words - Allow for 2 large paragraphs and a quote on Rex’s photo CELEBRATING MILESTONES Variety grants specialised equipment and experiences to Aussie kids in need, and even after forty years, the effect is astounding. Rex Phillips Rex's first trip to the park to feed We often hear of kids reaching personal the ducks with his siblings, aged 5. milestones due to their resilience and determination, that parents and medical professionals never thought possible. Some of the most touching moments involve ‘'the little things' that we all too often take for granted. First steps, first words, first birthdays - we are lucky enough to Intro MILESTONES concept share these with our Variety families. - HERO Image (REX PHILIPS PHOTO) and words Like Rex's first trip to the park with his siblings to feed the ducks, which was only - Allow for 2 large paragraphs and a quote on Rex’s photo possible due to the vehicle modifications Variety made to his family car. Together, our Variety community helps to change the lives of kids facing disadvantage, special needs and sickness, so that more kids can live, laugh and learn. Together, we have cause for regular celebrations, as our Variety kids reach their personal milestone moments. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Paul Mullaly In 2010, my board colleagues and I set Variety NSW a big goal - to double our revenue in five years. In 2014 we grew ever closer to achieving that goal and are now on track to reach that target next year. This growth has come in so many The year marked some exciting different ways. The Variety Cycle, developments including, bringing the Sydney Airport’s Christmas Giving SMILE Foundation under our wing, with Appeal and the GJ Variety Freedom the aim of continuing the Foundation’s Home are just some examples of the wonderful work in improving the ever more diverse revenue streams quality of life of children living with a that Variety is now pursuing. We look rare disease, or condition, and helping forward to continuing to grow these new to raise awareness. Under Variety’s activities in 2015 – and indeed to finding umbrella this became the Smile even more ways to aid the Australian Program. I’m thrilled to say the program community in supporting Aussie kids and new Case Manager service will help in need. us reach even more families in need. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Our growing corporate partnerships thank Brian Hoare, who stepped down program is truly impressive and I’d like as Deputy Chair earlier this year. I would to thank the many Australian businesses also like to acknowledge the efforts who have continued in their support of our hard working staff who always of Variety, or come on board as new impress me with the way they go above partners this year. Equally impressive and beyond to help reach our goal of is the ongoing work of our volunteers – helpings kids be kids. both those from the Bash community and beyond. It is only through your Variety has always been a strong efforts that we continue to succeed. community with a strong purpose – helping children reach their full potential. It was a year of significant change for I thank each and every one of you for Variety with the departure of former CEO being a part of that community and David Small to join Variety International helping to make this dream a reality for and new CEO Tam Johnston stepping Australian kids. into the role. To focus our efforts, the board developed a new strategic plan to take us through to July 2015 and ensure that we remain firmly committed to strong accountability and good Paul Mullaly governance during this time of growth. Chairman (Chief Barker – Tent 56) This plan articulates our commitment to Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW prudent management, to our team and to knowledge-based innovation. I’d like to thank my fellow board members, as well as the many committee members and volunteers involved with Variety, for their time and commitment this year. It has been a pleasure serving with you in this, my first year as Chair. I’d particularly like to MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Tam Johnston What a year 2014 has been for Variety - the Children's Charity in NSW. This year saw continued financial growth, new major events and initiatives, fantastic corporate partnerships and amazing volunteer support. Most importantly, it saw a continued growth of the vital work of helping Aussie kids in need. For the first time, Variety NSW built a We are grateful to have been selected house. Thanks to the support of as Woolworths’ NSW/ACT charity GJ Gardner Homes and our fantastic partner for a further twelve month South Coast Committee, this project period. This relationship is incredibly netted more than $209,000 and raised powerful and I’d like to thank CEO Variety’s profile enormously in the South Grant O’Brien (a former Treasurer of Coast community. I’m delighted that this Variety Tasmania!) and his team for their is but the first project in our partnership outstanding commitment to helping with GJ Gardner Homes and look children in NSW through their support forward to working together on our next of Variety. To date this relationship has project in Tamworth. raised more than $1.2 million – a truly remarkable achievement. MESSAGE FROM THE CEO In August, we celebrated 30 years many people work incredibly hard to of the iconic Variety Bash. To mark make Variety NSW the success it is the occasion we welcomed all other today and I am very proud to be playing mainland state Bashes to Sydney for my part. a special evening that will long be remembered. The Dick Smith B to B Of course, all this effort is in support of Bash raised an impressive $2.25 million our true goal – helping Aussie kids be – helping to bring the national total to kids. This year we helped 361 children $8.17 million. with individual grants and supported 27,551 others through grants to schools This year also saw the birth of a brand and other organisations. What an new event – The Variety Cycle. Some outstanding achievement. Each grant is 200 riders, led by founder Christopher a gift which touches the life of not only Mapp, took part in this epic adventure a child who needs our help, but also with a core group riding almost their family and their community.