BC/EFA Annual Report 2004 - Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS
HOW A DOLLAR
MAKES A
DIFFERENCE
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the nation’s leading i ndustry-based, nonprofit AIDS
fundraising and grant-making organization. BC/EFA is the ongoing, committed response from
the American theatre community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the
talents, resources and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related
causes across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $85
million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV or HIV-related illnesses, and
their families.
The fundraising and grant-making success of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the result of tens
of thousands of gestures of generosity that come together as one phenomenal show of support. This is never more apparent than in
the audience appeals done twice a year for two six-week periods by the Broadway, off-Broadway and national touring shows prior to
the annual Gypsy of the Year and Easter Bonnet Competitions. Here is how a single dollar becomes what in 2004 was a record-breaking $6.7*
million campaign.
A theatergoer is moved by the curtain speech made by a member of the cast after the curtain call. In support of BC/EFA or
simply because it was such a thrill to hear the show’s star informally talk to the audience about our work, he or she puts ONE
DOLLAR into the collection buckets manned by other members of the company and BC/EFA volunteers. In an average Broadway
house of 1,800, this means the following:
one generous gesture $ 1
the amount raised at one performance $ 1,800
there are 8 performances a week (x 8) $ 14,400
33 other shows are making the same appeal (x 34) $ 489,600
appeals are made for six weeks (x 6) $ 2,937,0600
twice a year (x 2) $ 5,875,200
Audience appeals are the backbone of BC/EFA’s yearly fundraising efforts. Of course, money is raised in other ways: through
direct mail and major donor campaigns, corporate sponsorships, merchandise sales, CareTix and CareCards, as well as from ticket
sales for one-time special events. Together all of these efforts allowed BC/EFA to raise over $13 million in FY 2004. But without a
doubt, the foundation of this success is built on audience appeals – or to be more specific, the thousands of times one person reaches
into pocket or purse and drops $1 in a volunteer’s bucket.
* Note: FY 2004 will forever be known as the “Year of Hugh Jackman in THE BOY FROM OZ.” During both this fiscal year’s GYPSY OF THE
YEAR and EASTER BONNET Competitions, Hugh led his exuberant cast in raising $632,998 and $539,058 during these two six-week periods for a truly grand
total of $1,172,056. This is certainly the most any one show has ever raised in a single year and in no small way accounts for the record-breaking success of this year’s
two appeal periods.
Cast members from The Producers in the lobby of the St. James Theatre; Hugh Jackman led the way as the company of The Boy from Oz raised $1,172,056
for BC/EFA in just one season; scores of cast members and BC/EFA volunteers held buckets like this during two six-week appeal periods;
cast members from Hairspray in the lobby of The Neil Simon.
how a dollar makes a difference
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