SURREY – The 49th annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon airs February 14 and 15 on Global BC, featuring heartwarming stories of children in B.C. helped by Variety – The Children’s Charity, concerts and new ways for viewers to engage with the show. It’s Variety’s biggest fundraiser of the year, but it’s also an opportunity to recognize the many supporters who are part of Variety’s team, including Surrey’s Avtar Bains.
A successful businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Bains has been active in his community for over 26 years. For the past nine years, he and his staff have hosted a fundraiser for Variety at Ricky’s All Day Grill in North Surrey.
Mr. Bains understands the value of lending a hand to those who need help. As a father who lost a child to cancer, he has experienced the difficulties faced by families caring for a child who is critically ill with a terminal disease. Supporting Variety is one of the ways he honours her memory, and their shared vision to help children who have special needs, in his heart.
There are many families in British Columbia who need Variety’s help, and last year, Variety funded 1,461 individual grants and 36 organizations across the province. In Surrey, Variety helped 165 families with funding for things like speech and language therapy, orthotics and van conversions for wheelchairs. The costs of these items are often beyond what is affordable by many families and are not covered by the health care system. But thanks to Variety’s support, children were able to achieve many little victories including saying a first word, taking a first step and experiencing their community in safety and comfort with their whole family.
Variety sees children who have special needs as champions, and is inspired by the courage and determination with which they meet their challenges. Each achievement is celebrated as a little victory, and thanks to supporters like Avtar Bains, more children every year in British Columbia
are able to achieve their own little victories.
Show your heart by tuning in to Variety’s Show of Hearts Telethon February 14 and 15 on Global BC and calling 310-KIDS to donate.
