Project Change

Butterfly Effect: Variety Show 2012

When PGAV received a request to participate in Variety Show 2012 on 2/25/2012, the butterfly began to take flight and the lives of many were changed forever. Deborah Wiebrecht, Executive Director of Variety Children's Charity, spoke to us about their major fund raiser and the challenges ahead for a successful event at the Midland Theater. Variety in Motion felt that this event could use their talents and skills and quickly sprang into action. Soon after, we fell in love with 12-year old Elijah, whose disabilities confine him to a wheelchair. However, he makes up for it in spirit and personality! Elijah was in need of proper attire for the event so we quickly found him a suit, dress shirt and tie for his debut on stage. Arwen Thomas donated her time to alter the clothing to fit Elijah's challenging measurements, giving him the extra boost in his confidence for his performance. Elijah got a chance to show off his skills (on stage) on his adaptive bicycle with Bryan Busby, helping to raise over $40,000 for Variety. Elijah has great potential to take his talents and positive outlook and make great things happen; truly a butterfly effect in motion!
Additional efforts were made by promoting the event (tickets sold out quickly) and providing stage props for some of the performances (thanks to Rick Powell of Baltimore Properties for loaning chairs). Digital Design also provided cardboard life-size graphic cut-outs of Deborah's kid-dos, which can be used to help her promote Variety Children's Charity throughout the year. 

Cody's Wheelchair Ramp Project

Soon after learning about a single dad in Ottawa, KS, who didn't have the means to provide 10-year old Cody with wheelchair access to his home, Variety in Motion started plans to build a wheelchair ramp. Quickly a crew of volunteers went out to survey the property and establish the parameters for this ambitious project, which needed to be built in one day!  PGAV Architects, lead by Kirby Viehland and Sherry Agee, began drawing plans, applying for permits, securing tools and organizing a crew of approximately 20 volunteers.  The project expanded as the crew learned that the existing weathered front porch also needed to be replaced, challenging the completion on time.  However, as the day progressed and the threatening weather loomed, the concrete was poured, the porch reconstructed, and the ramp quickly took shape.

To the surprise of everyone, the project was completed by 5:00p and finishing touches of flowers and plantings wre also added, with the help of the children, making Challenge Two a complete success!  Cody and his family were then presented with a bag of goodies, provided by Hy-Vee and the KC Royals.  Donations for most of the lumber were provided by a local lumber yard, food to nourish the crew during this long day was graciously donated by Global Forks Catering and Kevin (Cody's dad) provided his delicious barbeque for lunch.  Many thanks to Anthony and Nancy Pagel, Variety Board members, who were among the hard-working volunteers all day and Trendel Lumber Company for their generous donation of lumber to off-set the costs.

Cody was so impressed as many arrived to perform their jobs and after awhile, he lost count of all of the people there just for him!  He felt like a superstar and shared with his classmates his exciting news (even taking his new KU basketball, a gift from Krispy Kreme). 

Variety in Motion is pleased to have received so much media attention for our projects and a chance to bring Project Change and Variety Children's Charity so much attention to others:

• Variety Executive Director, Deborah Wiebrecht was featured on KOFO News radio, Q104, Mix 93.3 and Alice 102 radio shows
•  Front page of Ottawa Herald with a great article on the volunteer efforts to add a wheelchair ramp for a family in need

The Butterfly Effect that started in Challenge One, continued to grow throughout Challenge Two and beyond! 

Wheelchair Ramp for Cody

Soon after learning about a single dad, who didn’t have the means to provide 10-year old Cody with wheelchair access to his home, Variety in Motion started plans to build a wheelchair ramp for an Ottawa, KS family.  Quickly, a crew of volunteers went out to survey the property and establish the parameters for this ambitious project, which needed to be built in one day (Saturday, April 14)!  PGAV Architects, lead by Kirby Viehland and Sherry Agee, began drawing plans, applying for permits, securing tools and organizing a crew of approximately 20 volunteers.  Once on site, the project expanded as the crew learned that the existing weathered porch also needed to be replaced, challenging the completion on time.  However, as the day progress and the threatening weather loomed, the concrete was poured, the porch reconstructed and the ramp quickly took shape. Cody was amazed that so many people came out to help provide this amazing gift for him.  He was right there helping the crews wherever he could, along with his sisters.  To the surprise of everyone, the project was completed by 5:00p and finishing touches of flowers and plantings were also added, with the help of the children, making Challenge Two a complete success! Cody and his family were then presented with a bag of goodies, provided by Hy-Vee and the KC Royals.  Donations for most of the lumber were provided by a local lumber yard, food to nourish the crew, during this long day, was graciously offered by Global Forks Catering and Kevin (Cody’s dad) provided his delicious barbeque for lunch.  Variety Board members, Anthony and Nancy Pagel were among the hard-working volunteers while the Ottawa Herald stopped by to feature an article on the project.  Many thanks to all who worked so hard and got DIRTY to make this project happen!  Cody is so grateful and can now go freely and independently to/from his home with greater ease. 

Little Sisters of the Poor - Kansas City

Bellywood: The Late Bloomer Awards

Assist the activities director in finding props for their major event: Bellywood - The Late Bloomer Awards.

See a Need - Fill a Need : The Women's Clinic of Kansas City Josiah's Closet

See a Need - Fill a Need : The Women's Clinic of Kansas City Josiah's Closet

Women's Clinic of Kansas City

Our third Challenge continued where our second left off:  assisting the Women’s Clinic of Kansas City expand their support to the community by creating hope for young women who find themselves in difficult situations.  By providing counseling, support and resources at no cost to women, the Clinic is expanding their support to our community by adding a Grandview location.  This clinic is currently under construction but has had much help in securing design and planning, furnishings and finishes by Working Spaces whose talented personnel have dedicated hours of time and resourcefulness, off-setting costly fees and purchases.  Kelli Stouder used her design skills in AutoCAD to help the committee plan the on site design layout and created a finish board with coordinating furnishings.  She also approached fellow industry colleagues to donate items to completely furnish the facility; many thanks to Greg Coussens with Signature Flooring, Colin Weigel with ReSources of Kansas City, Bob Alexander with CSI and Darin Affeldt with National Office Furniture for their critical roles in helping to provide 90% of the needed items and services! What an amazing cost savings to the Clinic!  Although the building permits were just issued for construction, the Clinic is due to be completed  by July 2011, at which time pictures can will be available with the finish project.