Recently Kathryn Gallagher and Jenna Ushkowitz joined iHeartRadio Broadway's SJ Arnegger to talk about their friendly competition for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Red Bucket Match-Up. Gallagher and Ushkowitz are two of six Broadway and Hollywood’s stars are stepping up to lead the first Red Bucket Match-Up, an online fundraising campaign starting today to fund BC/EFA's National Grants Program. The spirited two-week competition, with a $2 million goal, will help provide lifesaving medication, health care and emergency assistance to those across the country struggling right now.
Every donation to the Red Bucket Match-Up will be matched by Gilead Sciences Inc. dollar for dollar up to $1 million. The campaign, which runs through Friday, April 16, will help those facing challenges today from HIV/AIDS, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other life-threatening illnesses in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Taking center stage to encourage fans and followers to donate are Jason Alexander (NBC’s “Seinfeld,” Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Merrily We Roll Along), Jordan Fisher (Disney Channel’s “Liv and Maddie,” Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton), Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill, Spring Awakening), Eric McCormack (NBC’s "Will & Grace," Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, The Music Man), Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, USA Network’s “Graceland,” Les Misérables film) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Waitress, Fox’s “Glee”). Each of the stars will take to their social media channels to ask for contributions to their virtual red buckets, the iconic symbol of Broadway Cares’ fundraising efforts.
Donations can be made to any of the celebrities at broadwaycares.org/matchup. Each star’s up-to-the-minute fundraising total will be available to track the competition in real time.
“The competitive spirit of these eight actors and the generosity of Gilead will help fill a critical void that’s deepened for local organizations during the pandemic as requests for help dramatically increase and financial support has decreased,” Broadway Cares Executive Director Tom Viola said. “Gilead led the funding of our Emergency Grants for Pandemic Relief last year, ensuring grants that we initially feared wouldn’t be made. While we hoped to be back in theaters fundraising by this time, we’re excited about the opportunity the Red Bucket Match-Up gives us for this year’s National Grants Program.”
Broadway Cares’ iconic red buckets are a staple for in-person fundraising during the spring and fall at theaters across the country. With the shutdown of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tour now beginning its 13th month, the Red Bucket Match-Up takes on even greater importance.
Watch the full interview in the player above.