“There are a lot of children charities that I am a part of, so it’s a perfect combination,” said actress and recording star Vanessa Williams.
In celebration of Variety’s 75th anniversary, the Grammy and Tony Award nominee will entertain guests at Variety’s 41st Annual Dinner With the Stars gala Saturday night at the Chase Park Plaza.
“It’s fantastic because Variety as an organization goes along with what I usually choose to do with my average life,” said Williams, who has been on the board of the Special Olympics for more than ten years.
Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis was founded in 1932 and helps children with disabilities until they reach age 21. They provide medical equipment, transportation, on-going development programs and a resource referral center to help children with disabilities live as independently as possible. Variety also provides financial support for 90 partner agencies whose programs benefit children with physical and mental disabilities. Serving a total of 200,000 local children in St. Louis.
Williams will join the long list of great performers that include Ray Charles, The Temptations, Gladys Knight
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., who have participated in Variety’s mission of helping children with disabilities through the event.
“The celebrity is one small part of life, but it can be powerful if we make people aware of issues by putting our name to use,” Williams said. “The bottom line is being human and giving back to something that you feel
strongly about – something that coincides with your mission in life.”
“When you feel like there is a sense of community, there isn’t the sense of an obligation,” Williams said. “ It’s what you do it because it’s what’s in your heart.”
In addition to the gala, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis has produced 40 telethons Over the past three decades , raising more than $70 million for children with physical and mental disabilities in the Greater St. Louis region.
The black-tie gala on Saturday, April 14, in the Khorassan Room at the Chase Park Plaza, Variety’s “Official Hotel.” Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner, an awards presentation.
For reservations or more information about Dinner With the Stars, call Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis at (314) 453-0453 or log onto www.varietystl.org to purchase tickets on-line. Sports
The Variety Telethon will air on Saturday, April 14th from 9-10 p.m. and from 10:35 p.m. – 12 midnight on KMOV-TV Channel 4.
