On behalf of Broadway and the entire theater community, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has provided $125,000 in immediate grants to four organizations on the front lines of the social justice and anti-racism movement.
Broadway Cares is making a $50,000 commitment to the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, a launch donation for this week’s Broadway for Black Lives Matter Again forum (bwayforblm.com) and the follow-up steps outlined by #BwayforBLM. The grant will support the coalition’s ongoing efforts to help Broadway heal, listen and become an anti-racist and equitable community.
Grants of $25,000 each are being sent to The Bail Project, Color of Change and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which are all providing timely, on-the-ground action for racial equality and social justice.
“The street action and protests ignited by the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and far too many others now demand that we address systemic racism in all communities, including Broadway,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “We need to hold ourselves accountable and do more to amplify and listen to BIPOC voices. We urge others in our community to support and engage with the critical work theBroadway Advocacy Coalition is doing to dismantle systemic racism. We’re committed to continuing the work of becoming an anti-racist organization.”
Read more about the organizations the $25,000 grants announced today are going to:
The Bail Project (bailproject.org), which works to pay cash bail for people jailed on low-level and non-violent offenses. The project has been particularly active this month helping those arrested during the equality protests. Because bail is returned at the end of a case, The Bail Project National Revolving Bail Fund can be recycled and reused to pay bail two to three times per year.
Color of Change (colorofchange.org), which is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. Color of Change is focused on doing difficult, important and immediate work challenging injustice and holding leaders accountable.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund (naacpldf.org), which is the nation's foremost civil rights law organization working toward racial equality, social justice and urgent legislative reform.
These three organizations will also be added to Broadway Cares’ National Grants Programs, ensuring annual grants continue in 2021.