Broadway Kids Care Hosts The Knitting Project

Broadway Kids Care (BKC), the new organization of theater kids for kids (and others), is launching "The Knitting Project" to benefit the residents of The Actors Fund's Lillian Booth Actors' Home in New Jersey and the homeless of New York.  

Kids from such Broadway shows as Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, The Color Purple, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, The Farnsworth Invention, Sunday in the Park With George and more, are asking  fellow company members (both front of house as well as backstage) to join them in knitting scarves for the Actors' Home as well as the homeless of New York.  "The Knitting Project" will take place November through February 2008.

In December, the children will also be performing a holiday concert at the Actors' Home where they will be distributing the scarves.  BKC will continue knitting year-round in order to benefit organizations in New York City that support the homeless.

Founded earlier this year by Kelly Gonda, President of East of Doheny Productions, BKC 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, BKC's members have participated in a variety of charitable works.  Most recently, they hosted a Halloween festival where they assembled baskets for the children of Freedom House – a New York City shelter for disabled women and children who are victims of domestic violence.  They did a similar event this past Easter in hopes of brightening the holiday for community children less fortunate.

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.org