Actor Lauren Zakrin opened her heart on social media in the fall of 2021, laying bare the vulnerability and realities of the moment for many in the theater community.

“People are returning to their precious, deeply missed jobs,” Zakrin wrote in a post on Instagram. “This joyous return is so deserved. I am cheering you on, celebrating you through it all. Simultaneously, I have been bulldozed by a tidal wave of grief that I am not one of those people right now.”

For countless more, the stress and mental weight of the pandemic, the isolation and separation from loved ones, and 20 months or more without work created a mental health crisis. One that the Entertainment Community Fund was well-positioned to help address with its team of social workers and network of support services.

In keeping with its commitment to ensure those services remained available for all, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS awarded the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) $7,777,500 in fiscal year 2021 to help everyone in entertainment and the performing arts.

“The last year has exposed how vulnerable people in our community are,” Fund CEO Joe Benincasa said. “Thousands of hardworking performing arts and entertainment professionals – performers and those behind the scenes – have been helped through the pandemic because of Broadway Cares’ record-breaking support of our programs. It is nothing short of miraculous.”

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS remained the single largest financial supporter of the Entertainment Community Fund’s vital safety net of social services. That support included funding for the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts, Addiction and Recovery Services, and The Dancers’ Resource.

As theaters began to reopen and audiences slowly returned, there were glimpses of post-pandemic life on the horizon. Yet the impact COVID-19 had on the theater industry will be felt for years to come.

“We couldn’t have gotten through the first 20 months of this pandemic without the overwhelming support of those inside and around the theater industry,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “Theater fans and industry professionals alike rallied around this community like we could never have expected, helping to provide the resources to keep folks in this greatly impacted industry afloat.”

An Entertainment Community Fund survey of entertainment professionals early in 2021 found a stunning 79% of those asked had increased feelings of anxiety or depression, symptoms of stress and a decreased ability to cope with economic uncertainty.

To address personal crises like these, the Entertainment Community Fund expanded its virtual platform to address emerging issues and concerns of the community, including an expanded emphasis on mental health.

With workshops focusing on how to return to a “new normal,” the Entertainment Community Fund offered individual counseling to aid in dealing with both immediate and chronic stress and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. These clinical and fact-based support groups, as well as individual therapy sessions, were available to re-center folks affected by isolation and living in uncertainty.

Of course, the impact of COVID-19 reached far beyond the mental health crises. Since the beginning of the pandemic and the ensuing industry shutdown, tens of thousands in the community faced daily challenges of getting groceries, keeping a roof over their heads and maintaining their health.

Just days after theaters went dark in March 2020, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS launched the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund. Administered by the Entertainment Community Fund, the fund provided hope and assistance to those onstage, backstage and behind the scenes who faced insurmountable hurdles, like paying their rent or retaining their health insurance.

Yesenia Ayala was living her dream, playing Anita in West Side Story on Broadway. After dancing in the ensemble of the national tour, a European tour and in Steven Spielberg’s feature film, she had finally taken center stage in this dream role at the Broadway Theatre.

In March 2020, Ayala went from Broadway star to unemployed performer in the blink of an eye, one of tens of thousands of theater workers whose livelihoods were taken from them when theaters shut down. And in the months after, many of those working at the industry’s highest level before the COVID-19 pandemic lost their health insurance.

“Qualifying for insurance is based on work weeks, but there has been no work,” Ayala said. “And COBRA payments for me are around $900 a month.” With West Side Story not among the shows returning to Broadway, Ayala’s ability to qualify for health insurance eligibility was in jeopardy.

To meet this kind of need, Broadway Cares funded the creation of Every Artist Insured, an effort that’s part of the Entertainment Community Fund’s Artists Health Insurance Resource Center, also called AHIRC. AHIRC provides counseling and health insurance enrollment assistance, helping to identify coverage options for affected members of the performing arts community.

A $1 million lead gift from Broadway Cares for Every Artist Insured meant AHIRC could double its staff to expand its free and confidential health insurance counseling and enrollment support services.

Throughout the year, Broadway Cares’ support of the Entertainment Community Fund also funded services to marginalized members of the community. Support groups were put in place for Black and non-Black people of color to find peer support and guided restorative dialogue about experiences of racial injustice, discrimination and bias in the workplace. Groups unique to Black women, Asian and Pacific Islanders and folks whose gender identity exists outside of the binary also were put in place.

“The community of donors that surrounds us is truly incredible,” Viola said. “They allowed us to support the Entertainment Community Fund to address every kind of need facing arts workers that this pandemic left in its wake.”

It’s a message that Zakrin embodies. “I am opening my heart to let you know you’re not alone,” she shared. “You can celebrate the return of “Broadway” & support your friends & loved ones whose feet are dancing on a stage again & still hold space for mourning, for grief, for fear. You are still an artist. You are worthy. You are valued. You are not alone.”

Support for the Entertainment Community Fund

Since 1987, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has provided more than $120 million in support to the Entertainment Community Fund.

For more information about the Entertainment Community Fund, visit entertainmentcommunity.org.

While theaters on Broadway and across the country were darkened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS supporters shined brightly, fueling an extraordinary $4.98 million in grants to 424 social services agencies across the country during fiscal year 2021.

Across the country, these organizations were quickly pivoting to address the challenges of the expanding crisis.

From the earliest days of the pandemic, Birmingham AIDS Outreach committed to remaining open to serve 1,055 individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Alabama. “We recognized the kinds of efforts required and created an agency-wide effort to quickly restructure procedures,” Karen Musgrove, CEO of Birmingham AIDS Outreach, said. The delivery of healthy food boxes, supported by a $10,000 grant from Broadway Cares, shifted from in-office pick-up to drive-thru delivery, providing more than 2,900 meals.

During the first 12 months of the pandemic, Golden Rainbow in Las Vegas saw requests for financial assistance increase 100%. “With utilities being disconnected for those who were delinquent in their payments, we also received an increased number of requests for utility assistance,” Golden Rainbow Executive Director Gary Costa said. “While we do receive federal funds to assist clients, many exceeded their limits due to COVID-19 and were at risk of utilities being shut off or eviction.”

To address this growing need, Golden Rainbow channeled its $10,000 grant from Broadway Cares to support its Financial Assistance Program, which assists with emergency short-term needs to prevent evictions, termination of utility services and essential short-term medical costs not covered by insurance. More than 500 people were served by the program thanks to Broadway Cares supporters.

Beyond the emergency needs that required organizations to pivot, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges for those most vulnerable. Nearly 90% of the clients at Bill’s Kitchen in San Juan, Puerto Rico, survive on a yearly income less than $12,000. That means they have about $200 a week to cover all their expenses – including housing, utilities, clothing, medications, transportation and food.

“Providing clients with healthy, nutritionally appropriate food is the heart of our mission,” Sandra Torres-Rivera, executive director of Bill’s Kitchen, said. “However, as an island where most of the food is imported, the price of fresh food and the costs of transporting it are ever on the rise.” In response to these compounding challenges, Bill’s Kitchen received $35,000 in support from Broadway Cares donors this year to provide more than 12,000 grocery bags through its pantry bag program.

Food and well-being are especially important for the growing and developing youth throughout the country. “While all of us have been impacted by COVID-19, the highly vulnerable children and families our organization helps have been particularly hard hit by this pandemic,” said Marci Finegood of Children’s Place, which provides support to families in Chicago experiencing crises or barriers affecting family safety and stability.

A $7,500 grant from Broadway Cares allowed Children’s Place to provide utility and rental assistance, food and transportation for families across the city. “Having the resources for emergency assistance enabled us to create safe and healthy environments for families, and keep children in child care or preschool without disruption,” Finegood said.

Overall, the $4.98 million in grants from Broadway Cares’ National Grants Programs was provided  to 424 social and medical service agencies in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. These agencies were supported in three rounds: $2,452,500 in grants to 131 food service and meal delivery programs in January; $925,000 to 41 nationally recognized AIDS service and advocacy organizations in March; and $1,604,000 to 252 direct service programs in June.

The National Grants support is on top of the $7.7 million donated to the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), which provides a safety net of social services for everyone in entertainment and the performing arts. Overall, Broadway Cares provided $13,024,000 in grants during fiscal year 2021.

“Even with theaters closed and in-person events canceled, our fundraising work continued at remarkable levels thanks to our generous donors and the ingenuity and compassion of theater artists,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “Broadway may have been dark, but Broadway Cares’ supporters helped keep the lights on, brighter than ever, for organizations providing meals, medication and emergency assistance to the most vulnerable across the country.”

Torres-Rivera, from Bill’s Kitchen, summed up the gratitude for the annual grants: “Thanks to the support from Broadway Cares, we have had no waiting list for the last three years. From the bottom of our heart, again and again, thank you!”

2021 National Grants

2021 National Grantees by State

Please use the drop-down box below to view by state all the agencies Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS funded in fiscal year 2021.

The following are members of the Visionary Circle and Angels Circle as of September 30, 2021. Names in bold indicate Premier Visionaries and Archangels, donors who increased their gift by 25 percent or more over the previous year. Contributions are not related to event ticket or merchandise purchases.

We thank these Visionaries and Angels who provide essential support for those affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other life-threatening illnesses across the country.

For more information about the benefits of the Visionary Circle or Angels Circle visit broadwaycares.org/angels or contact Sarah Cardillo at cardillo@broadwaycares.orgor 212.840.0770, ext. 275.

*Indicates members of the DRA Angels Circle
**Indicates members of the Broadway Cares and DRA Angels Circle

As of September 30, 2021

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is fortunate to have the continued support of a broad range of corporate partners.

As the philanthropic heart of the Broadway community, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is able to connect major corporate brands with one of the nation’s foremost creative industries and our most loyal supporters. We are also able to ensure that a corporation’s support reaches into nearly every community in the country through our National Grants Program.

Our Corporate Partners are able to build brand loyalty among millions of people associated with Broadway, be it on tour, onstage, backstage or in the audience.

Partner with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS on a broad range of projects that could include annual partnership, event sponsorship, customized programming, cash and in-kind donations.

We salute these generous partners for their compassionate commitment to making a difference.

The Colleen Dewhurst Legacy Society is the planned giving program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, honoring those who have included Broadway Cares in their estate plan or will.

The society is named for the late Colleen Dewhurst, the Tony Award-winning actress and past president of Actors’ Equity Association. She pioneered the formation of the Equity Fights AIDS Committee, which merged with Broadway Cares in 1992 to become the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS of today.

“I’m so proud of what we do for each other. There are so many people who thought this thing would never go. That it couldn’t be done. But it happened anyway because so many people came forward and, in many different ways, made it happen. And to this very day, I love you all for that.”

– Colleen Dewhurst, June 1991

Joining the Colleen Dewhurst Legacy Society ensures that the values that mean so much to you will extend far into the future.

Please contact Nick Mayo, major gifts and planned giving officer, at mayo@broadwaycares.org for information on how to include Broadway Cares in your estate plan or will.

In fiscal year 2021, gifts to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS were received from the following estates:

Doris Blau Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
Estate of Joseph Short
Estate of Gary H. Philipp
Estate of John Geist
Estate of Neil Lewis Kirsch
Estate of Richard V. Hamilton
Estate of Sheila Porter
The Joan Lawton Trust
Estate of Robert T. Russell
The FRK Foundation

The following people have provided for an estate or other planned gift to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS:

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We salute our many friends and colleagues who are no longer with us and left planned gifts to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Officers

Robert E. Wankel, president
Thomas Schumacher, executive vice president
Ira Mont, first vice president
Mary McColl, second vice president
Sherry Cohen, third vice president
Philip Birsh, treasurer
Judith Rice, secretary

Paul Libin, president emeritus

Trustees

As of October 2022

Tom Viola, Executive Director
Lane Beauchamp, Director of Communications
Larry Cook, Director of Finance & Administration
Valerie Lau-Kee Lai, Producing Director
Danny Whitman, Director of Development