Articles from Des Moines Register:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770305045

Superman actor soars home to help Variety telethon
By TOM BARTON
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

March 5, 2007


Not even a brutal Iowa winter could stop The Man of Steel from coming to the rescue.

Superman actor Brandon Routh braved hazardous road conditions, 45 mph gusting winds 
and blowing snow to help Iowans in need.

He didn’t use his laser vision, super strength, gift of flight or 
faster-than-a-speeding bullet flash to help dig out stranded motorists.

No, instead, the Norwalk native used his celebrity charm and hometown generosity
to help raise money for Variety - The Children’s Charity of Iowa during the 
group's 33rd annual telethon Saturday at the Palace Theatre at Adventureland in 
Altoona.

“He has what I call command presence,” said Stan Reynolds, Variety telethon 
producer. “He’s a fine young man. His life has changed with the Superman role, 
but he’s still a hometown boy at heart.”

Routh was joined by his sister Sarah Routh, an up-and-coming singer/songwriter 
living in Los Angeles, who performed a single from her latest album.

“It was a family affair. Mom and dad and brother were there too,” Reynolds said.
“His sister, Sarah, almost stole his thunder. She was fantastic, a beautiful 
singer. They both did such a great job.”

When not on camera, Routh could be seen gladly signing autographs nearly the 
entire time. Reynolds said he estimates by the end of the telethon at 6 p.m. 
Sunday, the actor had signed nearly 1,000 pictures.

“And it wasn’t just his signature. He’d write a note on practically each and 
every one,” he said.

The kids weren’t the only ones clamoring for time with Superman.

“The other stars were asking him for his autograph,” Reynolds said.

In addition to Routh, actress Emma Samms from the soap opera “Dynasty”; Miss 
World 2006, 18-year-old Tatana Kucharova, from the Czech Republic; Miss Iowa; 
and Miss Teen Iowa provided entertainment along with more than a dozen other 
musicians and entertainers.

“A friend asked me if Miss World is pretty. I said, ‘No, we decided to have an 
ugly one this year,’” Reynolds said. “She was gorgeous. It’s a fun payment 
working with Variety, getting to see Miss World.”

She was the 15th winner of the international beauty contest to help with the 
telethon, and it was Routh’s second time helping with the charity.

“We try to get new faces, but they feel good coming to Iowa and they all want to
come back,” Reynolds said. “I call it Iowa at its best.”

While weather made for a terrible time in an effort to fly in a cast scattered
as far away as London, Scotland, Los Angeles and Nashville — cold temperatures, 
weekend snow accumulations of more than a foot and slick roads actually played 
to the charity’s benefit.

“It was the biggest on-site crowd we ever had,” said Mark Vukovich, president of
Variety - The Children’s Charity of Iowa. “The call-ins were up from a year ago 
and we increased the number of people who gave considerably. We definitely had a
broader base. If it had been one of those March days where it was 49 degrees and
sunny, we wouldn’t have had as many calls.”

Roughly 3,000 volunteers — 1,000 of whom manned 82 phone lines donated by Qwest 
Communications — tallied more than $3.35 million in donations, about the same as
last year's total.

“It makes you feel good to see people who still care,” Vukovich said.

Variety – The Children’s Charity of Iowa helps Iowa children in need. Programs
supported by Variety benefit children’s hospitals, youth at risk, children with
disabilities and more – everything from paying for programs to the purchase of
medical equipment.

“For example, we’re helping Blank’s Children’s Hospital build a surgical unit so
kids don’t have to be wheeled over to Iowa Methodist,” Vukovich said. “This will
help a lot of kids in Iowa.”

After 30 hours of running around for the telethon, Reynolds, who helped start 
the telethon back in 1975, said he's glad it's Monday.

“We taped it, I’ve got a Bloody Mary and life is good,” he said.


Article #2:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703060404

Telethon raises $3.35 million
THE DES MOINES REGISTER


March 6, 2007


Not even a brutal Iowa winter could stop the Man of Steel.

Iowa-born actor Brandon Routh of "Superman Returns" braved hazardous road 
conditions, 45 mph wind gusts and blowing snow Saturday to help raise money for
Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa during the group's 33rd annual telethon
at the Palace Theater at Adventureland in Altoona.

"He has what I call command presence," said Stan Reynolds, Variety telethon producer.

Routh, a Norwalk native, was joined by several other celebrities.

The winter weather actually played to the charity's benefit, organizers said.

"It was the biggest on-site crowd we ever had," said Mark Vukovich, president of
Variety's Iowa chapter. "The call-ins were up from a year ago, and we increased 
the number of people who gave considerably."

Roughly 3,000 volunteers tallied more than $3.35 million in donations by 6 p.m. 
Sunday, about the same as last year's total.

Donations benefit children's hospitals, youth at risk, children with disabilities and more.

WHBF TV telethon article