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On Sunday, November 16 the four newest Matildas on Broadway -- Tori Feinstein, Eliza Holland Madore, Brooklyn Shuck and Fina Strazz, launched their coat drive to help Broadway Kids Care's "Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive,", which will continue through November 23, 2014. Scroll down for photos!
Broadway Kids Care (BKC), the organization of theater kids for kids (and others), has begun its annual coat drive on behalf of 'Warm Coats & Warm Hearts' Drive. The goal is to collect more than three hundred coats and the organization is well on its way and already has over two hundred coats!
"I'm really excited to be able to help with the coat drive this year," said Matthew Ko, a student at Xavier High School in New York City. Matthew is directing the coat drive for BKC this year with the assistance of fellow students from the local NYC high school.The BKC spokesperson for the Coat Drive, Laurissa Romain said: "The Winter Holidays can be a fun time of year for most people, but then there are those who don't get to fully enjoy it for a few reasons. The least we can do is collect coats to help people stay warm. I'm so grateful that there is an organization like Broadway Kids Care that brings young performers together to do what they love while helping others and making the world a better place."
Laurissa and Matthew are particularly enthusiastic about the success for this year's event. During the first round of the coat drive, which began on Monday, October 27, 2014, they collected approximately 200 coats - and there are more expected as the coat drive continues through December 1st, 2014. In the spirit of Broadway giving, joining Matilda the Musical, more Broadway shows will be joining in the BKC effort.
Broadway Kids Care, currently organized by Tammie Cumming, was founded in 2007 by Kelly Gonda, President of Doheny, as a way to bring together children from current and past Broadway shows while allowing them the opportunity to perform community service. During its brief history, BKC's members have participated in a variety of charitable works including: creating Halloween and Easter baskets for the children of Freedom House NYC, knitting scarves for the residents at the Lillian Booth Actor's Home, making peace/friendship bracelets for the troops in Iraq, creating hats for children undergoing chemotherapy at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and raising money for the UNICEF / Pampers One Pack=One Vaccine Program, among other projects.
Photo Credit: Rob Cohen / artnofoodPHOTOGRAPHY.com
Matthew Ko and Laurissa Romain
Matthew Ko and Laurissa Romain