Photo Coverage: Broadway Kids Care Celebrate 1st Anniversary

On Monday March 17, 2008 Broadway Kids Care celebrated their one year anniversary at the Chelsea Lanes Piers. Founded by Kelly Gonda, President of East of Doheny Productions, Broadway Kids Care brings together the children from current and past Broadway shows, affording them the opportunity to perform community service and, in the process, instill a strong philanthropic sensibility and foster a sense of community among the young actors and their families.

During its brief history, Broadway Kids Cares members have participated in a variety of charitable works. They have hosted Halloween and Easter events where they assembled gifts for the children of Freedom House. Their gifts continue with the presentation of the scarves from "The Knitting Project" and holiday stockings.

BKC's commitment to Freedom House – a New York City shelter for disabled women and children who are victims of domestic violence – began in April when the kids filled dozens of Easter baskets with treats and presented them to the children at Freedom House. BKC's support of Freedom House is based in the unique services the shelter provides: it is the only shelter in the U.S. that is completely handicapped accessible, offering in-house day care, psychiatrist, occupational therapy specialist and a nurse on staff. "Through all of the Broadway Kids Care projects we've done, the knitting project has given me a lot of comfort knowing that someone special will be a little bit warmer with the scarves we've made," said BKC member Dylan Snyder who appeared in Tarzan this past season. In the coming months, BKC will launch other projects and will team up with its grown-up cousins at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS on various philanthropic activities. BKC's dream is to become a nationwide organization, and ultimately, a global one. For more information about Broadway Kids Care, visit their website at www.bwaykidscare.com.

Photo Credits Linda Lenzi