FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Katie Thaman
Communications Manager
(314) 453-0453, ext. 25
(618) 292-6974
katie@varietystl.org
Variety recognizes Nestle Purina PetCare
for its outstanding support
St. Louis, MO – November 17, 2006 – Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis presented Nestle Purina PetCare with the President’s Award on Tuesday during its 40th annual Allocations Luncheon.
Since 1983, Purina has contributed more than $1 million to Variety for medical equipment and programs for children with disabilities. In addition, much of Purina’s funding has gone toward purchasing companion dogs for Variety families, providing four or five new friends annually for these children with physical and mental disabilities. Purina also assists with pet food and some veterinary care.
“Our mission at Purina is to advance the lives of pets and pet families, and this certainly fits into that mission,” said Steve Crimmins of Chesterfield, vice president of marketing for Nestle Purina PetCare. “We greatly value the good work that Variety does for children.”
During Variety Week in April of this year, the company gave five cents to Variety for every Purina-brand pet food item purchased. Purina has also helped to sponsor six 12-passenger Sunshine Coach vans for Variety partner agencies.
The President’s Award presentation was part of Variety’s Champions for Children Summit, which included an inaugural educational forum and the organization’s 40th annual Allocations Luncheon at the Chase Park Plaza.
The forum, which was free to representatives of Variety partner agencies, featured speakers Trent Stamp, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator, and Cindy Brinkley, president of at&t Missouri.
At the luncheon, 90 partner agencies received grants from Variety, and six received keys to Sunshine Coach vans. Other awards presented were the Stellar Performance awards to seven exceptional agencies and the Have a Heart, Lend a Hand awards to three dedicated Variety volunteers.
Formerly Variety Club, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis serves children with
physical and mental disabilities in the Greater St. Louis region, each time they need assistance, from infancy to the age of 21. Variety President Pat Mercurio is president of Bank of America Missouri, and Variety executive director is Jan Albus. Variety has received Charity Navigator’s highest four-star rating for two consecutive years, a rare feat in the nonprofit world.
Serving 1,300 families, Variety provides 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, every dollar raised in St. Louis stays in the Greater St. Louis region.
Established in 1928, Variety has grown to international prominence, helping children through 52 Variety chapters in 14 countries around the world, including chapters in Canada, England, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South and West Australia, and South Africa.
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