Broadway Cares, a theater charity that raises funds for health and social services, has faced criticism and complaints from some of its donors and supporters for donating $400,000 to humanitarian groups working in Gaza, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The charity, which is known for its red bucket collections at Broadway shows, announced the donation in November 2023, saying that it was part of its mission to help people in need around the world.
The donation, which was split between Doctors of the World and the International Rescue Committee, was intended to provide food, water, fuel, health care, medicines, and supplies to the people affected by the conflict in Gaza, where more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 100,000 injured by the Israeli airstrikes and shelling, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
However, the donation sparked outrage and backlash from some of the charity’s donors and supporters, who accused the charity of being biased, anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic, and of supporting a terrorist organization. Some of them also threatened to stop donating to the charity, and demanded that it also donate to Israel, where more than 300 Israelis have been killed and over 2,000 injured by the rockets fired from Gaza by Hamas, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.
The criticism and complaints prompted the charity to issue a statement, in which it apologized for creating confusion and misunderstanding among its supporters, and said that it would also donate to Israeli civilians in need, as well as to other causes around the world. The charity also said that it would update its fundraising communications to ensure clarity and transparency about where the donations are directed.
A Theater Charity Responds to the Complaints and Donates to Israel
Broadway Cares, which is the flagship charity of the theater world, and is often introduced at Broadway shows after the curtain call, said that it was committed to helping people in need, regardless of their race, religion, or nationality. The charity, which was founded in 1988, has raised more than $350 million for HIV/AIDS treatment, health care for underemployed actors, and other social services and safety nets, such as food banks, women’s health initiatives, and natural disaster relief.
The charity said that it decided to donate to Gaza after receiving requests from some of its partners and supporters, who were concerned about the humanitarian crisis in the region. The charity also said that it consulted with experts and organizations, such as the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, to ensure that the donation would reach the people in need, and not the Hamas militants.
The charity also said that it received a complaint from Rabbi Erica Gerson, a New York rabbi and a donor to the charity, who questioned the charity’s decision to donate to Gaza, and asked why it did not also donate to Israel. The charity said that it responded to the rabbi’s complaint, and explained its rationale and process for the donation. The charity also said that it agreed to donate to Israel, and that it was in contact with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a humanitarian organization that works in Israel and other countries, to allocate the funds.
The charity said that it hoped that its donation to Israel would help alleviate the suffering and hardship of the Israeli civilians, who have been affected by the war, and that it would also demonstrate its solidarity and support for the Jewish community. The charity also said that it hoped that its donation to Gaza and Israel would contribute to the peace and stability in the region, and that it would continue to support the efforts of the international community to broker a ceasefire and end the hostilities.
A Theater Charity Reaffirms Its Mission and Values
Broadway Cares, which is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity and goodwill of its donors and supporters, said that it was grateful for the feedback and input that it received from its supporters, and that it welcomed the dialogue and discussion that the donation sparked. The charity also said that it respected the diverse opinions and perspectives of its supporters, and that it appreciated their passion and commitment to the causes that they care about.
The charity also said that it was proud of its mission and values, and that it would continue to help people in need, both locally and globally, with compassion and integrity. The charity also said that it would continue to celebrate and embrace the diversity and inclusivity of the theater community, and that it would continue to use the power and influence of the theater to make a positive difference in the world.
