Across the country, from coast to coast, people are receiving the meals they so desperately need from food banks and meal delivery services, thanks to the incredible efforts of the theatre community and supporters of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The Broadway Cares food grants committee met February 8, 2018, and awarded $2,015,000 to 121 organizations, ensuring healthy meals will be served today to the most vulnerable among us.

Following the success of the recent fall fundraising and end-of-year campaigns, Broadway Cares was able to increase the record-setting level of grant-making in this category by $88,500.

These essential grants will reach hundreds of thousands of men, women and children facing overwhelming challenges. From Washington, DC, to Washington state, Syracuse to San Diego, neighbors living in need will receive grocery bags of food and nutritious meals on their plates.

For people living with HIV and other critical illnesses, a decent meal can be the first line of defense in fighting the disease and ensuring their medication is effective. Nutrition is so vital for these individuals, and you are helping them lead healthy, dignified lives.

“We live in increasingly troubling times, when resources are diminished and basic human care is at risk, and agencies are facing programmatic budget cuts pushed through by the current administration,” Executive Director Tom Viola said. “That’s why this generous support from the entire theatre community – those onstage, backstage and in the audience – is more crucial than ever before.”

Two additional grant rounds will occur later this year to support nationally recognized service and public policy programs, emergency assistance programs, direct services, substance abuse and harm reduction services, and quality of life programs.

In 2017, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS awarded a record $6,749,522 to AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. See last year’s grantees by state.