$5,000 provides 2,000 healthy meals or lifesaving medication for 20 people.
Have lunch with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Executive Director, Tom Viola in New York City!
Get the behind-the-scenes stories of Broadway Cares’ biggest events and champions - from stars like Hugh Jackman, Audra McDonald or Bernadette Peters who help shine a spotlight on lifesaving initiatives to the thousands of unsung backstage and off-stage advocates whose efforts are equally critical to Broadway Cares’ success. At a private lunch in New York City, you can also talk to Viola about what it’s like to know that millions of people are receiving nutritious meals and medication, health care and hope because of the efforts he’s led for more than 30 years.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS was born from the hearts of those in the theater community as our nation was facing the scourge of the AIDS pandemic. And now, in the wake of another pandemic, Broadway Cares remains the philanthropic heart of Broadway, turning anger and sorrow into action. Learn about years of triumphs and trials making a tangible difference for those in need from the man who has been a leader in the organization since its first days, Executive Director Tom Viola.
A native of Pittsburgh, Viola is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati. After working as an actor and freelance writer, he was hired in 1987 by Actors’ Equity Association for what was to be a temporary assignment. He became then-president Colleen Dewhurst’s executive assistant and, the following year, also became administrative director of the newly formed Equity Fights AIDS, which merged with h Broadway Cares in 1992. He’s been executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS since 1997.
Under Viola’s leadership and guidance, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300 million for people living with HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, Broadway Cares is the single largest financial supporter of the safety net of services provided by The Actors Fund, helping everyone in entertainment and the performing arts. He also oversees a National Grants Program that provides annual support to more than 450 organizations nationwide, including food pantries, meal delivery programs, health clinics and other direct service providers. In 2010, Viola was recognized by the Tony Awards with the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre for “the leadership, advocacy and creativity through which he has mobilized the theater community’s response to AIDS and other critical health issues.” He’s also been honored with the Howard Ashman Award from GMHC, the Patrick Quinn Award for Distinguished Service from Actors’ Equity, the Sandy Fund Award from the Humane Society of New York and The Mosaic Award for Distinguished Alumni from the University of Cincinnati. And he never forgets that before all that he was also one hell of a cater-waiter.
$5,000 provides 2,000 healthy meals or lifesaving medication for 20 people.