BC/EFA Annual Report 2005 - Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

oadway cares/equity fights aids
BROADWAY
ON EBAY
bc/efa’s auctions on ebay began in 2001, immediately following a disappointing
Broadway Flea Market, much of which was rained out. As an afterthought, we put some of the unsold merchandise up for auction
on eBay, and to our surprise, the results were impressive and a successful new BC/EFA fundraising initiative was launched. In the
past five years, BC/EFA’s eBay auctions have become a lucrative fundraising initiative. In fiscal year 2005, 1,046 items sold for a
collective $105,513, a slight increase over 2004’s total of $104,565.
Autographed playbills and posters as well as props, costume pieces, exclusive opening night gifts, and one-of-a-kind theatrical
memorabilia have all contributed to this very successful campaign. Stand-out items from fiscal year 2005 included a signed poster
from Wicked and an opening night poster from Spamalot, which sold for $1000.00 and $1010.00, respectively; two posters from the
All My Children 35th Anniversary event, which sold for $565.00 and $557.00; a handwritten musical phrase from Spamalot, signed by the
composer ($648.84), and a 1996 script from Rent’s first year on Broadway, signed by the 2003 cast ($565.00). Obviously, other
items went for less, but all were greatly appreciated, and added up to a very profitable year for BC/EFA on eBay.
Signing for a Cause: Broadway Show Posters
In addition to the direct financial support BC/EFA provides to hundreds of AIDS and family service organizations, we regularly
receive requests for signed Broadway show posters that can be included in fundraising auctions and raffles across the country. Last
year, over 620 signed show posters were sent in packages of 6-10 to 64 AIDS service providers to enhance their ability to raise funds
in their local communities.
It is no small favor to ask the casts of Broadway shows to sign dozens of posters, month after month, year after year. In addition
to thousands sold for BC/EFA in theatres and by BC/EFA on eBay, hundreds more are sent by BC/EFA to agencies that would
otherwise never have this kind of unique fundraising resource.
Consider this: 700 posters at $100 (and many are auctioned for much more) equals $70,000 in additional revenue to dozens
of grassroots organizations across the country. Our sincere thanks to everyone in any show who has ever taken pen to poster and
signed their name once, twice, a dozen times, or until their hand hurt.
A guitar signed by the entire cast of All Shook Up and played in the show by leading man, Cheyenne Jackson; a theatre-lover’s treasure, signed posters from Spamalot,
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Light in the Piazza; signed Playbills from Twelve Angry Men and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; and we ask you,
who could not bid on a toilet seat lid bearing the logo from Urinetown?
broadway on ebay
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