Letter from the President and the Executive Director

August 2011

Dear Friend and BC/EFA Donor:

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS though our more environmentally conscious and cost-saving online Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2010 (October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010).

Whether you are a part of the theatre community, a member of Broadway Cares' Angels Circle, an invaluable corporate partner, a ticket buyer, an auction winner or one of the unsung heroes who make up our invaluable cadre of dedicated volunteers in the theatre community and beyond, the fundraising and grant-making during Fiscal Year 2010 that is included here is made possible because of your extraordinary commitment of resources, energy, talent and time.

Considering the challenging effects the financial crisis of 2009 had on BC/EFA's fundraising, 2010 offered many reasons to celebrate. In fact, fundraising was up 16 percent, from $14,402,054 in FY 2009 to $16,727,880 in FY 2010.

Though there is much to celebrate, it's essential to keep in mind that this impressive total still remains $600,000 below Broadway Cares' pre-recession fundraising levels from FY 2008. While FY 2010 did offer significant increases in grant-making in every category, the primary goal last year was to return current grantees close to their funding level prior to the financial collapse.

BC/EFA's support for programs of The Actors Fund increased from $3,400,000 in FY 2009 to $4,106,000 in FY 2010, while the National Grants Program awarded $5,808,560 to hundreds of AIDS service organizations across the country, up from $4,507,800 in FY 2009.  

Because of your generosity, Broadway Cares has recommitted our support for sustaining an essential safety net of social services for so many here in the Broadway community, as well as hundreds of thousands more around the country who, marginalized by gender, race, sexual orientation, age and class, face extraordinary challenges from HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses in increasingly difficult times.

Unfortunately, spending cuts in federal, state and local budgets continue to have a devastating impact on men, women and children trying to keep their families together and their communities secure. Together, we will continue to do the best we can for so many around the country trying to navigate both short-term crises and long-term, life-threatening challenges.

Thank you for joining Broadway Cares for another year and into the future, until our work is no longer needed.  Thank you for making the good news from FY 2010 possible by recommitting your extraordinary talent and hard-earned resources, even in the most challenging financial times.  And, most importantly, thank you for not forgetting those who, as they face the continued stigma of living with AIDS, the challenges of variety of health issues and lack of the most basic resources, need our help most. 

Our work together indeed has and will continue to make a difference.

Sincerely,