Variety Kids Telethon

The 63rd Annual Variety Kids Telethon took place on Saturday, March 8th, 2025 from 6pm- 11pm on WGRZ, Channel 2, AND Sunday, March 9th, 2025 from 10am-8pm on WBBZ, Channel 5.

We are thrilled to announce that $1,070, 255 was raised! We thank you for your amazing support.

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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 63rd Annual Variety Kids Telethon, we are proud to have:

The Enchanting Extraordinary EVELYNN, as the 2025 Celebrity Child
Karan Durkin of HDE Electric, as Celebrity Chair
Rose Ann Heilemann, as Telethon Chair
Kathy Kaminski, as Telethon Co-Chair

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Celebrity Child: Evelynn

It is with great pleasure, we announce Evelynn as the Celebrity Child for The 63rd Annual Variety Kids Telethon taking place in March 2025.

Evelynn was born in the Spring of 2021. Shortly after Thanksgiving 2021, Evelynn was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer. At approximately 7 months old, the tumor was reported to be a dumbbell shape, sitting inside her spine with large masses protruding from each end. Evelynn required hospitalization for a month at Oishei Children’s Hospital as a result of the swelling of her spinal cord caused by the tumor. The swelling was so significant that she was unable to lift her own head. With the support of her treatment team and loved ones, Evelynn successfully completed eight rounds of chemotherapy at Roswell Park Pediatric Clinic. The tumor responded so well to treatment that Evelynn did not require surgery to remove it. Evelynn has been in remission for over two years!

Due to the location of the tumor, Evelynn has a spinal cord injury. Although Evelynn’s core is weak and she has minimal movement in her lower extremities, she is continuing to work on her mobility and strength daily to be able to meet her milestones through extensive physical therapy and supportive occupational therapy. Currently Evelynn participates in physical therapy four times per week through the Robert Warner Center, The Motion Project, and school based physical therapy (previously Early Intervention). She has made a tremendous amount of progress, including being able to walk for short periods of time, in her own way, with assistive equipment.

Aside from being one of the most determined 3-year-olds, Evelynn is kind and smart. She loves Ice cream, Disney Princesses, and camping. Reading, singing, and dancing are her favorite things. Because of all of the support she has received through Oishei, Roswell, and the Motion Project, Evelynn is not only recovering, but thriving.

Variety is thrilled to have Evelynn and her loving family a part of The 62nd Annual Variety Kids Telethon taking place Saturday, March 8th from 6 pm-11 pm on WGRZ, Channel 2, AND on Sunday, March 9th from 10 am-8 pm on WBBZ, Channel 5 and streaming online.

We look forward to sharing Evelynn’s journey at The 2025 Telethon.

Honorary Chair: Karan Durkin of HDE Electric

Karan Durkin is a current Marilla resident, former Lancaster High School graduate, and is VP of HDE Electric, Inc., as well as President of the Iroquois Music Boosters. She recently came across Variety and felt a connection to the organization, and its mission to help children and their families, in various ways, after receiving a personal thank you phone call from Development Director, Jessica Ritch for a business donation that was made on behalf of the company.

Karan lives with her husband of 27 years, her 24-year-old daughter, who is a band teacher and musician, her 22 year old daughter who is in her Senior year of College, at a local University studying to be a teacher and a waitress as well as her 2 cats. She is blessed to be surrounded with a great family and an amazing group of friends.

Her faith in God has opened up many new doors and experiences that have been blessings. She enjoys praying, volunteering, helping others, music, musicals, The Buffalo Bills, walking, traveling and being outdoors. She firmly believes we have the ability to change the world through kindness, faith and a love for each other and the world. We all have the ability to make a positive difference, no matter how big or small.

Telethon Chair: Rose Ann Heilemann

Rose Ann is a member of both the Tent and the Variety Club Women. She has basically grown up helping with Variety functions since her mother joined the organization in 1971.

Fundraising is where much of Rose Ann’s energy has been spent. She was Chairman of the School’s Committee for the 1987 and 1988 Telethons, and has sold candy bars at various malls and bowling alleys through the years. She was Co-Chair of a big band dance in 2006. She also Co-Chaired the Women’s Tea for Telethon 2023. In more recent years, Rose Ann has worked alongside her mother on the Phone Committee, acting as Supervisor..

As a retired teacher, Rose Ann enjoys being a volunteer at The Teacher’s Desk. She also is a lector at St. Amelia’s Roman Catholic Church, and a member of the Respect Life Committee at the Roman Catholic Church of the Tonawandas.

She has a wonderful husband, son and daughter-in-law. She also has an adorable grand-puppy.

Rose Ann is looking forward to Chairing Telethon 2025. Her goal is to get the community more involved with some old and new fundraising endeavors.

Telethon Co- Chair: Kathy Kaminski

Kathy Kaminski was born to Joseph and Katherine Inzinna on September 14, 1951

in Buffalo, New York. She spent the first three years of her life in Buffalo, New York and then moved to Cheektowaga where she spent her early childhood years. At the age of 8, Kathy and her family moved to Amherst, New York. It was there that Kathy and her three sisters grew up, and Kathy first began volunteering as a girl scout by running errands and performing various chores for the elderly. She remembers her parents taking her downtown to Channel 7 for the Variety Club telethon with donated money that she collected from the neighborhood. During her high school years she volunteered as a candy striper at Sisters Hospital.

After graduating from Bishop Neumann High School, Kathy was employed by M+T Computer Center. Shortly After, she had two sons Joel and Craig. As she was raising her sons, she always found time to help others in need. Kathy was very close to her nephew Joey who was born developmentally delayed. Her love for Joey and others with disabilities inspired her to organize her first charitable fundraiser through a local running club in 1991. Titled Dance Back in Time, all the proceeds were given to the Variety Club of Buffalo. This is when Kathy was first introduced to Variety Club and was asked to join the women of Variety.

Kathy worked for the Town of Amherst Highway Dept for over two decades, in 1997 she became the first female crew chief in highway dept. History. Working in the forestry division, Kathy became best Known to the community as coordinator of the tree planting program throughout the Town of Amherst. She had a reputation for always making herself available to hear residents’ issues and worked hard to make sure they got resolved. One of Kathy’s proudest accomplishments was her includement with the development of the 9/11 memorial hill Grove located on the Ellicott Creek Trailway, The living monument was created to honor the victims and heroes of the September 11th tragedy.

Kathy has been active in the community for many years along with being the founder and chairman of the annual “Dance Back in Time” which is going on its 20th year, her work with Variety Club, includes telethon chairwoman in 2005, past president of Variety Club women, present board member of Tent #7. She was the former recipient of the Mary Jane Cunningham Memorial Award, Kathy is also past Chairwomen and supporter of the Girls of Italy, member of women interested in Cystic Health, and past member of Canisius College Scholarship Association and Autistic Services.

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Here is a little history about the Telethon:
The Variety Kids Telethon, now in its 63rd 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!

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