Lancaster, NY (www.varietybuffalo.org) Thank you Buffalo, and all of Western New York, for your support of the 62nd Annual Variety Kids Telethon, raising $1,041,775 for the Variety Club of Buffalo Tent #7! We were able to surpass last year’s dollar amount and we are profoundly grateful to continue to help the kids who need us the most. We could not do it without the incredible support of this awe-inspiring community. Buffalo truly is the City of Good Neighbors.
The funds raised directly support Oishei Children’s Hospital, and other Children’s charities. The 62nd Annual Telethon event aired Saturday, March 9, 2024, on WGRZ-TV Channel 2, the NBC affiliate in Buffalo from 6pm until 11pm, and Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 10am until 8pm on WBBZ-TV, the locally owned MeTV affiliate, broadcast on Channel 67.1 on-air; Cable 5. Both days were held LIVE from the Variety Headquarters in Lancaster, New York.
Paul Cambria, President of Variety commented, “Western New York came through once again, as did Channel 2 and Channel 5 and Variety was able to raise over ONE MILLION dollars to continue to support this amazing hospital and staff.
The Channel 2 on-air personalities Saturday, and WBBZ-TV personalities Sunday, joined attorney Paul Cambria, President of Variety, along with Darius Pridgen, the former Buffalo Common Council President from the Ellicott District and Bishop of the True Bethel Baptist Church, in hosting the event.
This year’s Celebrity Child was Oliver Cope. Oliver along with his mom. dad and ten-year-old sister, Frankie
joined Honorary Chairperson Mayor Byron W. Brown of the City of Buffalo, General Chair Bill Simon, and Co-Chair Rose Ann Heilemann, with talented artists from right here in Buffalo & WNY! Video stories were presented featuring Oishei Children’s Hospital, members of the medical team, past Celebrity children, and patient stories profiling the miracles that happen at Oishei Children’s Hospital every day.
Throughout the 15 hours of the Telethon, various corporate matches and donations were made by so many incredible members of our Buffalo and WNY community, coming together for our kids. As of 8pm on Sunday, March 10, 2024; $1,041,775 was raised. It was a wonderful time celebrating Variety’s history.
“The Telethon is a great celebration of Western New York coming together to help children and families, broadcast and streamed for Buffalo and all the world to witness. WBBZ-TV 5 is honored to produce and air the event with WGRZ Channel 2, and other media partners”; said, John Di Sciullo Co- Producer of the Variety Kids Telethon.
On behalf of the children we serve, Thank You! To ensure we can help all our variety kids, please honor your pledge. Donations can still be made online at varietybuffalo.org. All the monies raised stay local and help support the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital as well as other local charities that benefit children. For more information, please visit varietybuffalo.org!
The Variety Club of Buffalo thanks WGRZ-TV Channel 2 General Manager Mark Manders and his team, WBBZ-TV owner Phil Arno and his team, the staff and production team, Oishei Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Variety Club Board, Volunteers, and everyone who contributed their time, talent, and energy.
The Telethon is truly a team effort on all ends and we would like to sincerely thank our other media partners, sponsors and everyone who helped make the 62nd Annual Variety Kids Telethon a success.
