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  • In Memory of "Commander Tom" Jolls logo
  • Tom Jolls, a Western New York broadcast icon, passed away recently at age 89.

    Tom appeared every year on the Variety Kids Telethon as Commander Tom interviewing thousands of children who donated monies through the Schools and Youth Committee. Their slogan was “Kids Helping Kids”.

    We at Variety will be honoring Tom during Telethon 2024 and ask that if you were one of those children who was interviewed by Commander Tom, you go on this specific link to donate in his honor. We will tally up your donations and announce them during Telethon 2024.

    On behalf of Variety and in Commander Tom’s memory, Thank You.
Variety the Children´s Charity of Buffalo and Western New York logo
In Support of Variety the Children´s Charity of Buffalo and Western New York
Variety - the Children's Charity of Buffalo and Western New York supports children in our region who are facing illness, disability, or disadvantage with a range of programs from life-saving medical interventions to enrichment programs in sports and the arts. Our flagship event is our annual Variety Kids Telethon, one of the nation's longest-running, locally-produced telethons. Funds from the Telethon go to the Variety Tent #7 Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center and the Oishei Children's Hospital, as well as over a dozen local children's organizations in Western New York every year.

Our mission is to transform, uplift and enrich the lives of children facing illness, disability or disadvantage in Western New York.
Our vision is to be the most trusted and effective children's charity in Western New York. 
Our promise is to be a faithful steward of public funds and a compassionate advocate for the most vulnerable children in our region.