Heart of Variety Grant Program

Heart of Variety Grant Program

Organization: Variety – The Children's Charity of Texas

Mission: Financial support for Texas families raising children and young people with disabilities, helping families access equipment, therapy, mobility tools, camps, and other essentials that remove barriers to participation.

Geographic Scope

• Service Area: Texas (statewide)

Eligibility

• Families raising children and young people with disabilities
• Children with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities
• Texas residents
• Funding Cap: Up to $10,000 lifetime per child
• Families can submit multiple requests over time

What Heart of Variety Grants May Support

• Barrier-free summer camps
• Electric wheelchairs or adaptive strollers
• Therapy and care services
• Home repairs or accessibility improvements
• Adaptive equipment or communication tools
• Transportation access
• Emergency support when families face unexpected challenges
• Everyday essentials (glasses, clothing, shoes, etc.)

Grant Philosophy

• Approach: Guided by lived experience of people with disabilities and advocates
• Goal: Remove barriers that limit access, participation, and choice
• Review Process: Applications reviewed by Variety Texas Advisory Committee, which includes people with disabilities, advocates, and family members with lived experience
• Funding Model: Random selection from waitlist for each grant cycle to ensure fair opportunity across Texas

Current Demand

• Over 900 families (representing 3,000+ Texans) on waitlist
• High demand across Texas
• Random selection process used due to limited funding

Contact Information

• Phone: 512-328-5437 (press 1 for grant assistance)
• Email: info@varietytexas.org
• Address: 1801 E 51st St - Ste 365-235, Austin, TX 78723

Support Services Available

• Assistance completing request forms
• Translation support in multiple languages
• ASL interpretation
• Phone assistance option
• Accessible application process designed for diverse needs

Organization Background

• Founded: 1936
• Status: 501(c)(3) Public Charity
• Years of Service: 90 years serving Texas families
• Mission: Expanding access, inclusion, and opportunity for young people with disabilities and their families across Texas