Over 60+ years
Of serving and helping the kids who need us the most and that is all thanks to amazing donors like YOU! With your continued support we can provide our children right here in our hometown with the care they need.
For The 64th Annual Variety Kids Telethon, we are proud to have:
- Sully Mettille, as the 2026 Celebrity Child
- Russell Salvatore, as Celebrity Chair
- Kathy Kaminski, as Telethon Chair
- Susan Grelick, as Telethon Co-Chair
Celebrity Child: Sully Mettille!
With a smile that can brighten any day, it’s with great excitement that we introduce Sully Mettille, the Celebrity Child for The 64th Annual Variety Kids Telethon.
Sully Mettille was born at 33 weeks on September 23, 2015 at the former Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo weighing three and half pounds alongside his twin sister, Mary who was three pounds.
Due to their early arrival they were admitted to the NICU, with Sully being on a ventilator and Mary requiring additional oxygen. It was a tough start as the Mettille Family also had a two year old daughter, Lizzie at home in addition to needing to be at hospital with the twins. Mary came home on October 6th and Sully a few weeks later on October 26th of 2015.
Around 11 months, Sully’s parents realized that something seemed off and that he required additional care. By his first year he had contracted whooping cough, was choking and had an episode where he turned blue and needed medical attention immediately. After this, Sully’s immune system was weaker and he also started treatment for asthma.
Sully’s official diagnosis is Autism, Apraxia and ADHD.
Everything was coming together and Sully was getting all the necessary help he required.
Unfortunately, when the Covid-19 Virus hit, Sully started to regress. As the world was navigating the pandemic, services and every day routines got severely interrupted and created chaos for their family. Sully would sleep all day and could no longer walk. It was discovered that his inhalers were having a negative effect on his immune system as well which lead to adrenal insufficiencies.
Sully has received care for a Developmental Delay, Gross Motor Skills ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Orthopedics, assistance at the Feeding Clinic, Endocrinology, and Dermatology at Oishei Children’s Hospital and The Variety Tent #7 Robert Warner Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation.
Some of the amazing Doctors that have helped Sully in his journey include:
- Dr. Andrews- Development Services
- Dr. Azaula- Gross Motor Skills
- Mary Miller- NICU Nurse
- Dr. Zmuda- Pediatrician
- Dr. Nagy- ENT Services
- Dr. Hassinger – Sleep Medicine
- Dr. Wooldridge and Dr. Perez- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Dr. Almadhoun- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Dr. Orie- Pediatric Cardiology
- Dr. Rothman- Dermatology Care and Treatment
By October 2023, Sully was back on track and was able to get rid of his inhaler, no more tubes and on the path to healing.
We are extremely happy to report that Sully is currently in 4th grade and is thriving in every way. He lives in Buffalo with his parents Claire and Mike, twin sister Mary and older sister, Lizzie.
Some fun facts about Sully include his love for the color blue, he is a member of an adaptive ski program, practices Taekwondo, plays lacrosse, and he plays the violin.
In addition, he is a huge lego fan, loves to play Minecraft, Pokemon and enjoys pringles, kitkats, chocolate chip cookies and pasta to name a few. Sully is a huge Buffalo Bandits fan and loves the Bills, too!
Upon Sully meeting the 2026 Telethon Honorary Chair, Mr. Russell Salvatore, the two instantly bonded and Variety Telethon Chair, Kathy Kaminski arranged for them to have matching suits for the photo shoot, it was quite a magical moment.
Variety is honored to have Sully and his loving family be a part of The 64th Annual Variety Kids Telethon!
The 2026 Telethon will take place on Saturday, March 21st , 2026 on WGRZ, Channel 2 from 6pm-11pm and continues on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 from 10am-8pm on WBBZ, Channel 5” as well as streaming online. Please watch and support the kids right here in WNY!
We hope you will tune in and join us in helping the kids right here in Buffalo & WNY.
Honorary Chair: Russell J. Salvatore
Since his preteen years of peeling potatoes and shining spittoons Russ has always found his calling and passion in creating good times for others. Russ, along with his brother Tony, eventually took over the operation of their father’s business and began introducing his ideas and dreams to the business. Together they watched as they took their fathers already successful business to new levels. In 1967, Russ took a ride east from Delevan, “all the way to Transit Rd.”, where he found a small hot dog stand that was for sale. Dreaming of a new challenge Russ took a chance leaving his thriving restaurant on Delevan to start all over again, and he purchased the hot dog stand.
He quickly remodeled it and opened a small 8 to10 table fine dining restaurant. He was the cook, dishwasher and waiter. After many years of long hours, hard work, and his growing passion for people, Russ was able to expand his restaurant several times to create the Buffalo landmark that is now Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, a 100, 000 sq foot restaurant and banquet facility.
His drive again pushed him to develop the Garden Place Hotel in 1995. While the hotel was under construction however, Russ was faced with the devastation caused by a fire that destroyed his dream restaurant. After 40 years already in this very demanding business, many wondered if he would have the energy & drive to rebuild. Well, true to form, he never gave it a second thought! He had all the construction crews from the hotel move down to the restaurant and they immediately began reconstruction, as to fulfill obligations that Russ had to wedding couples and their reception plans.
The entire foyer, dining and some banquet facilities were affected by the fire. True to his “Love to Overdo it” style, the restaurant was rebuilt bigger and even more beautiful once his efforts were complete. He celebrated this accomplishment by hosting a dinner banquet for all the volunteer fireman and workers who helped him save his restaurant.
Telethon Chair: Kathy Kaminski
Kathy Kaminski brings decades of leadership, dedication, and community service to her role as Chairman of the Variety Club Telethon, benefitting Oishei Children’s Hospital and other local charities throughout Western New York. A longtime member of the Variety Club since 1997, Kathy has previously served as both President and Telethon Chairman, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of children and families in need.
Kathy’s inspiration for helping children began when her nephew, Joe, who has special needs, was just seven years old. His courage and joyful spirit sparked her passion for supporting children’s charities, a commitment that continues to this day. Early in her volunteer work, Kathy also created a fundraiser dance where children with special needs and their peers could come together for an evening of dancing, fun, and friendship with their families a 20-year tradition that reflected her belief in inclusion, joy, and community connection.
Professionally, Kathy’s career has spanned leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. She spent more than two decades with the Town of Amherst Highway Department, where she made history as the first and only female Crew Chief in the department’s Parks & Forestry Division. Her work included managing daily operations, coordinating crews, and helping develop the Town’s Comprehensive Tree Plan. Kathy also served as General Manager at Dave’s Christmas Wonderland, where she oversaw store operations, hiring, supply chain management, and financial oversight. Known for her strong problem-solving skills, work ethic, and ability to inspire teamwork, Kathy has consistently earned the respect of her colleagues and community.
A Williamsville native, Kathy is a proud graduate of Bishop Neumann High School and Bryant & Stratton Business Institution. She has dedicated much of her life to serving others through her professional achievements and volunteer work. Her leadership with the Variety Club continues to reflect her passion for giving back and her unwavering belief in the power of community support.
Telethon Co- Chair: Susan Grelick
Susan Grelick is honored and absolutely thrilled to serve as Co-Chair of the Variety Club Telethon — a cause close to her heart since first joining Variety Club Women in 1992. Supporting Variety’s mission to improve the lives of children and families has been one of her most meaningful lifelong commitments.
A trailblazer in public service, Susan made history as the first woman elected Town of Amherst Supervisor (1997–2005) and the first woman elected Amherst Town Clerk (1992–1996). An attorney with an MBA, she has also served as Counsel and Legislative Director to the New York State Senate Majority Leader and taught at the University at Buffalo Law School.
Her tenure as Supervisor was marked by visionary projects — creating Amherst’s first State Park, building the Northtown Center ice complex and the Amherst Senior Center, and establishing Memorial Hill Grove as a tribute to the victims of 9/11. Under her leadership, Amherst earned national recognition as one of America’s safest and best places to live.
Deeply committed to community, Susan currently serves as President of the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo, President of the Board of MusicalFare Theatre, and Vice-Chair of the Chautauqua Women’s Club. She is Trustee Emeritus of Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, where both a gallery and legacy society bear her name.
Philanthropy has always been a guiding force in Susan’s life. In recognition of her generosity and leadership, she received the 2025 Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies Leadership Endowment Award and the 2024 Theodore Roosevelt Exemplary Citizen Award — honors that reflect her lifelong dedication to giving back and inspiring others to do the same.
Throughout her career, Susan has worked tirelessly to build stronger, more compassionate communities. Her return to the Variety Club Telethon as Co-Chair reflects her enduring belief that service, generosity, and love for others can truly change lives — and she couldn’t be prouder to help continue this beloved Western New York tradition.
Here is a little history about the Telethon:
The Variety Kids Telethon, now in its 64th year, is the nation’s longest-running, locally-produced telethon – and its home is right here in WNY! It all started back in 1962 when Dr. Robert Warner asked Variety to help him fulfill his dream of a rehabilitation center for children with special needs. The first Annual Variety Kids Telethon raised over $80,000, and the Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center for Children with Special Needs became a reality at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.
Since then, the Telethon has been a WNY treasure, all thanks to the tens of thousands of Western New Yorkers who tune in and pledge their support every year. The Telethon funds dozens of local children’s nonprofits, in addition to the Hospital, and every penny stays right here in WNY. It’s because of this we say “Variety is WNY.” We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you, WNY!
