Broadway Makes for a Merry Christmas for Shelter Children in NYC

For the past four years, the Broadway Kids Care (BKC) has provided the children of the Freedom House and Secret Garden with Christmas stockings filled with holiday gifts. This year, BKC teamed with A Little Night Music,Addams Family, American Idiot, Billy Elliot, Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas, Fela!, Lion King, Lombardi, Mary Poppins, and Promises, Promises to provide more than 200 Christmas stockings and gifts for the children living in shelters in NYC. The gift drive provides a brighter holiday season for boys and girls living in transitional housing or local shelters right here in our NYC community. "Because of the generosity of the Broadway shows, the BKC gift drive was a tremendous success this year," said BKC spokesperson, Alex Ko.

According to a spokesperson for one of the local shelters "BKC and the Broadway community are making so many children and parents feel so good during this season where most of them cannot afford to buy gifts. The Freedom House and Secret Garden, once more, want you to know that your ability/willingness to share your treasure with the less fortunate is definitely valued."

Broadway Kids Care was founded by producer Kelly Gonda in 2007 with the mission to preserve and perpetuate the theater community's grand tradition of public service and to involve the community's youngest members. Through BKC, children from current and past Broadway shows have the opportunity to perform a variety of service work activities. BKC is dedicated to ensuring that the next generations of theatrical talent carry forth the message, mission and consciousness that has made Broadway such a vital part of New York City and beyond.

Photo Caption: BKC Members December 2010