More than 20 Broadway producers have teamed up to match donations up to $1 million to the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS emergency fund.
The producers, who include Jordan Roth, Daryl Roth, Scott Rudin, Jeffrey Seller, David Stone and the John Gore Organization, will collectively match each donation dollar-for-dollar up to $1 million. The emergency fund, which was launched March 17 to support displaced workers in the entertainment industry, has raised more than $570,000 so far.
With the matching support, the fund’s initial goal of reaching $1 million by April has been raised to $2 million.
Participating producers include Spencer Ross, who came up with the idea for the matching challenge, Rebecca Gold Milikowsky, Elizabeth Armstrong, Bill Damaschke, Diana DiMenna, Jeanne Donovan Fisher, S. Asher Gelman, John Gore and Lauren Reid of the John Gore Organization, Louise Gund, Judi Krupp, Larry and Beth Lenke, Carmen Pavlovic and Gerry Ryan, Marc Platt, Daryl Roth, Jordan Roth, Scott Rudin, Jeffrey Seller, Jana Shea, Iris Smith, David Stone and Barbara Whitman.
The emergency assistance fund, which is administered by the Actors Fund, is meant to help entertainment workers meet expenses related to COVID-19 and to provide additional resources to the Actors Fund’s Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts. The Actors Fund has received 5,000 applications submitted in the last 10 days, according to a press release.
Thus far, aid has been given to hundreds, according to the press release, including insurance assistance, food and rental assistance and temporary housing to those in need.
Broadway producers, as part of a deal negotiated between the Broadway League and the theatrical unions and guilds, also recently agreed to pay salaries and provide health insurance to affected Broadway employees during the currently scheduled suspension of Broadway shows.
Other members of the theater community have led fundraisers for the entertainment community, including more than $600,000 raised for the Actors Fund through Rosie O’Donnell’s live-streamed show Sunday night. Lin-Manuel Miranda helped raise $52,000 for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS emergency fund during his recent appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
