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HEART OF VARIETYFEBRUARY, 2007

2006-2007Variety – The Children’s CharityOffi cers & Board of Directors

PRESIDENT Mark Vukovich

1ST VICE PRESIDENT Steve Eden

2ND VICE PRESIDENT Dave Southwell

TREASURER Stan W. Reynolds

SECRETARY Joanne Mangold

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Lana Jones-Gould

BOARD MEMBERSKim BaerBill BoydRod BurnsDiane CaldbeckReynolds CramerApril DailyLes DavisRosalie GallagherKyle GambleEileen GannonToni GerlemanSteve GoodingTerence GreenleySusan HeunLaura Hollingsworth

Sheila HouriganPat KnuevenLinda KoehnKathryn KunertScott N. LinnJeff LorenzenPauline LundDave MaurerSoozie McBroomDrew McLellanKaren NovakMarshall PorterJoe ProctorMaury RedingScott Rundall

Vicky SlagleJill SmithKari SmithJohn SnyderRon TaylorKirk TibbettsWicker VanOrsdelNick VanPattenZac VossEric WalkerJon WendelBrad WinterbottomMaria WitternHan Wu

VARIETY INTERNATIONAL

Mike Reilly Jody Reynolds Stanley J Reynolds

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSheri McMichael

PAST PRESIDENTS

Steve BlankStanley J. ReynoldsMike ReillyRay JohnsonJ GlasnappMike AndersonJack PrayJim WillerSteve Jacobs

Jody ReynoldsKeith SwansonJim SprattEric TurnerBruce ShermanMike KnappLoretta SiemanBrad WinterbottomCharles Taylor

Kirk TibbettsDave MaurerJoe ProctorGregg GustafsonSuzie Glazer BurtRosalie GallagherJack PriceTerry GreenleyLana Jones – Gould

FROM THE PRESIDENT… Mark VukovichThe culmination of our year happens March 3rd and 4th when Variety conducts the largest telethon in Iowa. Since our fi rst telethon in 1975, Variety has given nearly 70 million dollars to over 300 children’s charities in all 99 counties, and put nearly 300 Sunshine vans on the road to transport children. Variety’s mission of helping children and making a difference in their lives is always our end goal.

I would like to thank everyone involved in Variety, the executive committee, the board of directors, the staff, and all of our dedicated volunteers who have served on numerous committees or as VIP’s. A special thanks this year goes to Bill and Wicker Van Orsdel for all the West Glen grand opening events and the proceeds they generated for Variety.

This year the honorary chairs for central Iowa are Bob and Cynthia Cramer. They are dedicated to improving the lives of Iowa’s special needs children through the Variety fund raising process. I am thankful for their efforts and their friendship.

As we approach the telethon, we all must remember that the need of Iowa’s children has never been greater. Without Variety – The Children’s Charity, thousands of children would lead less comfortable, productive, and happy lives. Those children challenged by physical and mental disabilities, poverty, abuse, and neglect would suffer even more. It is our responsibility as the largest children’s charity in Iowa to raise as much money as we possibly can to prevent this from happening.

Thanks for all that you do, Mark Vukovich

2 HEART OF VARIETY FEBRUARY, 2007

Variety – The Children’s Charity of Iowa is honored to have Thomas J. Berthel as honorary chair for the 2007 Eastern Iowa Telethon.

Berthel is the Chief Executive Offi cer and Chairman of the Board of Berthel Fisher & Company, a fi nancial services holding company located in Marion, Iowa. Variety touched the lives of Berthel’s family when his twin grandchildren spent their fi rst days in a hospital with Variety’s name on the walls. Tom and his wife, Deanna, visited the twins frequently in Des Moines’ Blank Children’s Hospital.

“My foursome won a charity golf outing in the summer of 2006, and we knew Variety would be the perfect recipient for our prize,” said Berthel. “Variety played a part in caring for my grandchildren, so it was the least I could do.”

The 21st Annual Eastern Iowa Variety Telethon will air March 5-9 during the morning, midday, and early evening news broadcasts on KWWL – Channel 7. More than 500 Eastern Iowa volunteers will participate. The phone panels will be in the KWWL studio in Waterloo, as well as in the Alliant Tower lobby in Cedar Rapids during the broadcasts.

Berthel is actively involved throughout the community working with various charities and philanthropic organizations, including the Midwest Division Board for the American Cancer Society. In addition, the associates and employees of Berthel Fisher & Company will pledge their time during the Telethon on three phone panels.

“Community involvement has always been a priority for me personally and professionally,” said Berthel. “I am looking forward to appearing on the telethon to encourage others to support this worthy cause with their pledges.”

Berthel Fisher & Company provides full-service securities brokerage services for investors representing over 350 registered representatives in 38 states, investment banking services for mature companies and entrepreneurs, leases and loans for growing business, and a full array of insurance products.

EASTERN IOWA HONORARY CHAIR Tom Berthel

CENTRAL IOWA HONORARY CHAIRSCynthia & Bob Cramer

Bob and Cynthia Cramer are the central Iowa Honorary Chairs for the 33rd Annual Variety Telethon to be held on March 3 and 4, 2007.

Bob is the retired President and Chief Operating Offi cer of Fareway Stores Inc., headquartered in Boone, Iowa. Fareway is the leading economical retail grocery company in the Midwest. The company specializes in selling USDA Choice beef, non injected pork and poultry cut to order for your selection, and top quality produce. They are closed on Sunday, while being open, 8 am- 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, serving the public in over 93 locations in three states.

“Community involvement has always been a priority for me personally and professionally.” said Cramer.

Cramer is actively involved throughout the community working with various charities and philanthropic organizations, including serving as President of the Boone Educational Endowment Foundation, President of Iowa Grocers Educational Foundation, and on the boards of National MDA, Boone County Family Y, Boy Scouts of America and the Greater Des Moines YMCA. Additionally he serves as a Trustee to Buena Visa University and on the boards of Boone Bank & Trust and Ames National Bank Corporation.

Cynthia serves as President of Chapter NP, PEO, board member of the Foundation for the Boone Area Humane Society, Lowell Club Study Group, Quester’s and last, but certainly not least, as a supporter of Variety – The Children’s Charity of Iowa.

Bob and Cynthia have a long history in supporting Variety – The Children’s Charity of Iowa, with 25 years of annual support for a number of Variety activities, including the Black Tie Dinners, Polo on the Green, the Stars Dinner and VIP Panel fund raising. The Cramer family attended their fi rst Telethon in 1982.

“We certainly believe in Variety’s mission of supporting children’s charities throughout Iowa. When asked to serve as Honorary Chairs for Telethon 2007, the timing was just right and we were thrilled to represent all of the volunteers in Iowa that work so hard for the benefi t of the kids.”

“ We believe Variety is especially effective be-cause of its dedicated and passionate staff. They and all the volunteers make a differ-ence, and in addition, they all seem to have a good time while doing their great work.”

FEBRUARY, 2007 HEART OF VARIETY 3

BIKES FOR KIDS reaches out in Eastern IowaThe Eastern Iowa committee of Variety worked hard this past year to reach out beyond Cedar Rapids and become a presence throughout the area.

The Bikes for Kids program in Cedar Rapids typically gives away 70-80 bicycles, helmets, and bike locks to kids whose families cannot otherwise afford them. This year, however, by work-ing with the Toys “R” Us store in Cedar Rapids and with Hy-Vee Food Stores in Dubuque and Waterloo, Variety nearly doubled the number of bikes distributed in Eastern Iowa this year.

Many of the children receiving bikes this year lived with their families in homeless or domestic-violence shelters. A few spe-cial kids had been transplanted to Eastern Iowa after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.

The committee will continue to expand the program to other communities throughout Eastern Iowa, wherever children are in need of an opportunity like this.

Volunteers from Variety’s Eastern Iowa committee, from Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, and from the University of Northern Iowa gathered in the parking lot of the University Avenue Hy-Vee in Waterloo to give bikes to kids this past summer.

Variety’s Bikes for Kids programs brought huge smiles to the faces of kids in Waterloo and Dubuque for the fi rst time this year.

2006 Bikes for KidsNothing can compare to seeing a child ride a bike for the very fi rst time in their life or to the many smiles, hugs and thanks when they get that bike. To date this year, Variety – the Children’s Charity of central Iowa has given 362 bikes to deserving children who would otherwise not have a bicycle of their own. With the help of Young Variety and numerous volunteers, Variety has held successful events in Winterset, Pella, Fort Dodge, Boone and Des Moines, to name a few. If you would like to be a part of this wonderful program, or if you would like to sponsor a bike for a child, contact the Variety offi ce at (515)-243-4660.


Variety/Leinenkugel Golf Invitational raises a new record!On Tuesday, August 8, Variety’s Eastern Iowa committee hosted its annual Variety/Leinenkugel Golf Invitational presented by Weitz at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids. Two hundred and eighty-two golfers came out to compete and sup-port Eastern Iowa’s kids, despite occasionally threat-ening skies. Everyone enjoyed sandwiches provided by Hy-Vee Food Stores for lunch and a delicious dinner contributed by the folks at Outback Steakhouse.

The volunteer organizers of the event, led by Jim Lingo of the Collins Road Hy-Vee, successfully planned a day that included prize opportunities at all eighteen holes, a putting contest, a silent auction, hole-in-one prizes, and much more.

The planning and hard work paid off when, at the end of the day, the event raised a whopping $45,000 for Eastern Iowa’s kids.

Members of the planning committee for Eastern Iowa’s golf event present a check for their record-breaking 2006 fundraiser. From right: Jeff Hubler, Mount Vernon Road Hy-Vee; Brent Heinz, First Avenue Hy-Vee; Larry Gladson, Elmcrest Country Club; Jamie Franck, Edgewood Road Hy-Vee; and chairman Jim Lingo, Collins Road Hy-Vee.

Catch the Spirits of Spring in Eastern IowaThe Cedar Rapids Marriott has, for 18 years, hosted a fantastic springtime fundraiser for Variety in Eastern Iowa. This year, the annual wine festival is growing to encompass premium beers and liquors and will be known as Spirits of Spring!On Friday, April 27, 7-10 p.m., everyone is invited to the Cedar Rapids Marriott for delicious hors d’oeuvres, entertaining games, and a fabulous silent auction. Guests will be able to sample from hundreds of fi ne wines, beers, and liquors throughout the

evening and even purchase their favorites in bulk from representatives from local Hy-Vee Food Stores.Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door and may be purchased at the Cedar Rapids Marriott or by calling the Eastern Iowa Variety offi ce at 319-398-6573. Anyone interested in participating, contributing, or volunteering for the event should contact Shelley at [email protected].

Eastern Iowa’s annual wine festival has a new name for 2007 – Spirits of Spring – and will feature premium beers and liquors in addition to the usual fi ne wines.

Debbie Neumeyer and Heather Fortune Vestweber of the wine festival’s planning committee enjoy their evening at the 2006 event.


BLACK TIE DINNER

The 2007 Black Tie Dinner was held on Thursday, January 11th, at the Sheraton in West Des Moines. For many years this dinner has been a “must attend” for companies and individuals throughout Iowa, and a top money-raising event for Variety – and this year proved no exception. The evening netted $120,00 for the special needs children of Iowa, through the more than 540 attendees and our generous sponsors.

Our fi rst speaker of the evening was Variety’s own Reynolds Cramer. Now a member of the board of directors, Reynolds fi rst became familiar and involved with Variety through his work at Fareway Stores. Later, he and his family became benefi ciaries of Variety’s work and fundraising. Reynolds shared the brave journey he and his family have taken with their daughter, Ashley, now 7, through several surgeries and medical care--and ultimately her diagnosis with a severe form of autism and need for full-time care. Reynolds stressed the criticality and the quality of the assistance he and his family received through Variety-supported charities and offered his story as just one of so very many examples of the needs in Iowa.

Our keynote speaker this year was Gene Chizik. In November, 2006, Chizik was hired to replace outgoing coach Dan McCarney as head football coach of Iowa State University. New to the state of Iowa, the Black Tie dinner was Chizik’s fi rst speaking engagement in Iowa outside of his coaching duties. He shared details about himself, offered inspiring stories from his coaching journey, and shared his insight and

passion for his family (wife Jonna, identical twin daughters Landry and Kennedy and son Cally). Gene shared that in his fi rst interview with Jamie Pollard for the ISU coaching position he was told about the work of Variety – and encouraged to become involved, which he pledged to do. It must be noted that Jamie Pollard, Athletic Director for Iowa State University (and last year’s powerful key note speaker) was instrumental in securing Chizik for this year’s event. Not only was Pollard in attendance and at our head table for the evening, but he gave Chizik a lively introduction. Following the event, both Gene and Jamie shared their time with the line of attendees wanting to meet and shake hands with them and thank them for being with us.

New this year, Variety placed individual donation pledge forms on each table and asked individuals who felt they could make a donation to do so. We also reminded everyone of our upcoming telethon in March and our need for everyone to help us raise more money for Variety’s children in 2007.

This year’s event could not have nearly as successful without our many dinner sponsors. These included event sponsors Iowa Health Systems and Riverside Casino and Golf Resort. Iowa Beverage System, Gallo Winery and Swiss Valley Farms were in-kind sponsors for the night.

The 2007 Black Tie event was a great success, and hopefully just the start of more-to-come in this exciting year!

Mark Vukovich, Variety President; Cynthia & Bob Cramer, Honorary Chairs; Jamie Pollard, ISU Athletic Director; Gene Chizik, ISU Football Coach; Laura Hollingsworth & Doug Ireland, event Chairs; Ted Stephens, KPWB and Mike Wilson, KDSM


SIOUX CITYMarch 4, 2007

Larry Wentz Marla Rabe

QUAD CITYMarch 4, 2007

CENTRAL IOWA TELETHON9pm March 3rd until 6pm March 4th

Stephanie Angelson Brad Edwards Chris Flanagan


This is the 21st year that United Airlines has partnered with Variety – The Children’s Charity in helping fl y in the cast of performers for the Variety Telethon. Over 20 people fl y in from

around the country to provide entertainment at the Des Moines Telethon and United has provided free upgrades. On behalf of the children of Iowa, we salute the friendly skies of United Airlines!

Once again, the caring employee-owners of United Airlines will be working the toteboard in Des Moines for the entire Telethon. In recognition of the hard work of all the United Airline employees, we extend a special thanks to David Trachtenberg, United Airlines Marketing Manager.

THANK YOU, UNITED AIRLINES!!

2007 TELETHON CAST

Megan Bobo Jason Cook Charles Cozens Dakota CrosswhiteMiss Iowa Teen USA

Michael Danso Ben Davidson

Dondino Michael Dore Jim“Hacksaw” Duggan

Blake Emmons Steve Haberman Greg Hanna

David Anthony Higgins Tatana KucharovaMiss World 2006

Samantha Murphy Kim Olson

Dani ReevesMiss Iowa USA

Brandon Routh Denise Shipler Alyssa Simmons

Scott Smith Beth Smith Wicker VanOrsdel


Darrin Otto Ed Podolak

Sara Routh Emma Samms

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