Broadway Producers Pledge To Match Emergency Funds Up To $1 Million

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is stepping up to help with emergency assistance to those effected by the coronavirus and shutdowns caused by the pandemic. More than 20 Broadway producers have banded together to set up the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund under Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and have pledged to match new donations made by the public up to $1 million. They hope to reach their goal by April 12.

The COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund, which will be administered by the Actors Fund, will help both onstage and backstage workers impacted by the viral pandemic and work shut down. Broadway theaters have been closed since March 12. They are set to reopen on April 13, though many believe that date will be pushed back. 

Spencer Ross, of Company, The Minutes, and Jagged Little Pill, was the first producer to pledge matching up to $50,000. Ross urged other producers to join with their own pledges. Rebecca Gold Milikowsky stepped up to co-lead bringing on more producers. The list of producers now includes Elizabeth Armstrong, Bill Damaschke, Diana DiMenna, Jeanne Donovan Fisher, S. Asher Gelman, John Gore & Lauren Reid/The John Gore Organization, Louise Gund, Judi Krupp, Larry & Beth Lenke, Carmen Pavlovic & Gerry Ryan, Marc Platt, Daryl Roth, Jordan Roth, Scott Rudin, Jeffrey Seller, Jana Shea, Iris Smith, David Stone and Barbara Whitman.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised over $300 million since its founding in 1988 as part of the first wave of charities set up to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The foundation is recognizable from their speeches after Broadway plays asking the audience for donations and their signature red buckets. 

The emergency funds will be distributed through the Actors Fund. In the last 10 days, the fund has received applications from 5,000 people asking for assistance and the Fund has already provided help to hundreds. The emergency funds are not limited to people with HIV/AIDS. Over $580,000 has been raised by 3,000 donors. Broadway Cares donated an initial $250,000 into the fund. A ticker on the Broadway Cares website shows the matching as new donations come in.