On Christmas Eve 1928, a baby named Catherine was found in the Sheridan Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Her adoption initiated the charitable work of Variety the Children's Charity.

Variety the Children's Charity is an outgrowth of the "Variety Club," a social organization founded in 1927 by 11 men affiliated with the entertainment industry in Pittsburgh, PA.

Today, Variety has 43 Tents (Chapters) in 13 countries.

Variety has raised over US$1.5 billion for children around the world.