Variety Child Learning Center Announces Third Annual Boo! Walk

Variety Child Learning Center is happy to announce that its third annual Boo! Walk will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, 63 Larrabee Avenue in Oyster Bay.

The Boo! Walk has become a much-anticipated annual event where Variety's students, staff, alums, parents, and friends come together for a day of great fun and festivities. Costumed participants walk and raise money to increase awareness of young children with diverse learning needs. The scenic park walk is a festive occasion, filled with music, snacks, games, and activities for children and their families. The event will also feature a Halloween costume contest, adding extra fun and excitement with prizes for the best costumes.

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At this year's Boo! Walk, Variety is pleased to recognize and honor three exceptional students for personal growth and academic achievement.

Anthony A. is an incredibly happy three-and-a-half-year-old who started at Variety's Syosset campus four months after he was diagnosed with autism. Before coming to Variety, he received helpful in-home support. Still, his parents noticed a dramatic change when he started school and began spending his days in Ms. Lisa's class. Anthony is now far more verbal—not always with words we can fully understand, but he is clearly trying. According to his parents, who reside in Brookville, Variety "has changed our son Anthony for the better and comes home every day with a huge smile on his face. We cannot say enough good things about Anthony's teachers."

Steven F. When it came time to choose a preschool for their four-and-a-half-year-old son Steven, Variety was the only school his parents toured. The Seaford residents instantly fell in love with the school's Gallow campus in Levittown and met their teacher, Ms. Julie, who became the catalyst for his most growth-filled year to date. Steven's favorite time of the day is speech with Ms. Rita. She understands that each child grows at their own pace, and her patience, consistency and love for Steven are beyond what his parents could have expected. Amazingly, Steven found his voice this year and began to speak! He even sang "Happy Birthday" to his father on his birthday - an incredible memory his family will cherish.

Ethan K., a happy four-year-old from Woodbury, began his journey at Variety through Early Intervention services, where he made tremendous progress. When it came time to choose a preschool that could support his needs, Variety was an easy decision for his parents, who noted, "From day one, we have been surrounded by a team of professionals who truly care about Ethan and his success." Today, he loves to talk, enjoys making friends, and has developed wonderful social skills thanks to the dedicated and caring staff at Variety's Syosset campus.

The Variety Child Learning Center family invites everyone to join us in fulfilling our mission of bringing families together in a loving, diverse, and safe community where we touch hearts and change lives forever. Your participation in the Boo! Walk is not just a walk, but a step towards a more inclusive and supportive community. Register to walk here: https://myfunrun.com/Varietyboowalk/register.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 4. If it rains, the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, October 11.

Variety also thanks its sponsors, The Paul L. Martin Charitable Trust for their generous $10,000 "It's the Great Pumpkin" sponsorship; Jerrick Associates, Inc. for their $5,000 Black Cats & Bats sponsorship, and Suffolk Credit Union, HUB, Ruth Stearn & Family and Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran LLP for their $2,500 Monster Mash sponsorships; and One Service, The Law Office of Steven Alizio, BDO, and Hanover Bank for their generous $1,500 Say Boo! Support of the third annual Boo! Walk event.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by visiting Variety's website, or calling the Development Office at 516-921-7171, extension 2185.

For more information about Variety Child Learning Center, please visit our website at www.varietyclc.org/.

About Variety Child Learning Center

Variety Child Learning Center (Variety) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fosters the development, education and inclusion of children who require specialized services. Variety offers programs at four Long Island preschool-based locations, as well as in the home and community. Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and regulated by the State Education Department, the Department of Health, and the Office of Children and Family Services, Variety provides a comprehensive range of programs and services that meet the individual educational, therapeutic and social-emotional needs of children with and without disabilities. Programs include early intervention, and preschool and universal pre-K, with evaluations offered for supportive services/ therapies, childcare, and family support. All aspects of a child's development—from six weeks through eight years of age—are addressed. Variety's programs are led by compassionate and dedicated professionals, including special education teachers; social workers and psychologists; speech, physical and occupational therapists; and an experienced administrative and executive leadership team. For more information, visit www.varietyclc.org, or call 516-921-7171.

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