A spirited two-week competition among six of Broadway and Hollywood s most charitable stars raised $1,919,254 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS annual National Grants Program. The first Red Bucket Match-Up, an online fundraising campaign which ended Friday, April 16, 2021, supports organizations nationwide that provide lifesaving medication, health care and emergency assistance for those affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses.
Successfully leading the friendly but fierce competition were Jason Alexander (NBC s Seinfeld, Jerome Robbins Broadway, Merrily We Roll Along), Jordan Fisher (Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, Disney Channel s Liv and Maddie ), Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill, Spring Awakening), Eric McCormack (NBC s Will & Grace, Gore Vidal s The Best Man, The Music Man), Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, USA Network s Graceland, Les Misérables film) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Waitress, Fox s Glee ).
Despite pandemic-induced challenges to traditional fundraising efforts, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS this week provided a record $2,452,500 in grants to 131 food service and meal delivery programs in 37 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.
The 2021 total tops last year s pre-pandemic support of $2.3 million, a notable 6% increase over what was then a record grant round. These grants are even more critical now as the federal food stamps program addresses a nearly 23 percent increase in need in the past year and 24 million Americans currently say they often or sometimes do not have enough to eat.
The food grants, part of Broadway Cares National Grants Program, ensure that those affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other life-threatening illnesses can get access to healthy meals through food pantries, meal deliveries and other food programs.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Provides $2 45 Million in Food Grants playbill.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from playbill.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Nathan Lane and Vanessa Williams
Tony winner Nathan Lane and Tony nominee Vanessa Williams will make appearances during the December 31 broadcast of NBC s New Year s Eve 2021 to encourage donations to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDSâ national efforts addressing hunger and food insecurity. The telecast begins at 10 PM ET.
The donations will provide meals and support for groceries at food banks and other organizations across the country currently supported by Broadway Caresâ National Grants Program. Every donation made at BroadwayCares.org/Help will be matched dollar for dollar by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, up to $200,000.
Their appearance follows the network s
One Night Only special, celebrating the resilience of the theatre community and encouraging donations to Broadway Cares. The December 10 broadcast raised over $3 million for the organization.