Debbie Allen took heart stage at Project Angel Food’s Angel Awards Sept. 29 in Hollywood, honored with solely the second Humanitarian Angel Award within the nonprofit’s historical past.
Venture Angel Meals was launched by activist Marianne Williamson in 1989 to assist convey wholesome meals to these troubled with HIV/AIDS within the Los Angeles space. It has since expanded to supply medically tailor-made meals to folks struggling for all sorts of sickness and meals insecurities.
“Venture Angel Meals has a really particular place in my coronary heart, as a result of ‘Fame’ is a giant a part of my life,” Allen mentioned. “I misplaced half of my dance firm to AIDS, and that was robust. That was arduous. And to have a corporation that at its beginnings, that’s the main target and the core … to assist those that are being handled like [they have] leprosy and never allowed to be a part of the crew. And I’m so grateful for that.”
The Emmy-winning actress, producer, director and choreographer was acknowledged for her many years of philanthropic work, which incorporates launching Los Angeles’ Debbie Allen Dance Academy and the Debbie Allen Center College.
“That is floor zero in the direction of humanity. It’s one thing that we have to keep in mind, one thing that we acquired to get again to. We form of misplaced our ethical backbone on this nation. We not our brother and our sisters’ keepers anymore. We now have to go and provides again to those that are in want and people who can’t assist themselves,” Allen mentioned.
“To simply bear witness to [Allen’s] achievements is to know what might be executed, which is so necessary for the younger lives that she touches,” mentioned her “Gray’s Anatomy” co-star Jesse Williams, who offered the award to Allen.
“She has been an advocate for folks, regardless of the place they arrive from, regardless of who they’re,” mentioned Whoopi Goldberg, who appeared in a video honoring Allen.
“She’s an icon. She is a type of trailblazers and visionaries that may all the time, all the time should be celebrated and acknowledged,” mentioned actress and singer Deborah Cox, who closed the occasion with a rousing collection of hits, together with “I’m Each Lady.”
L.A. Care Well being Plan and its CEO John Baackes have been offered the Sheryl Lee Ralph Legacy Award, whereas actor Matt Bomer obtained the group’s Angel Award for his work with Venture Angel Meals. He accepted in a pretaped video.
“I apologize for not being there in particular person. Because it seems, this was additionally a dad and mom’ customer weekend at our son’s first semester of school. So I did what any Angel Award winner would do. I selected to scream my voice horse with our son at a soccer sport in Texas,” Bomer mentioned.
He went on to explain how impactful the group’s work had been on his household.
“One of many nice issues about my husband, Simon Halls, and I being concerned on this group … has been introducing our sons into the volunteer program,” Bomer added. “I’ll always remember the smile on our oldest son children face when he got here house after his first volunteer expertise. He felt so good about himself. He knew that he had executed one thing that made a distinction in somebody’s life. It’s a second that vastly impacted him. To at the present time, once I requested him what makes him the happiest, it all the time entails serving to others.”
“Fellow Vacationers” author and producer Ron Nyswaner famous Bomer’s legacy within the trade.
“When he got here out of the closet, it wasn’t so trendy. It wasn’t trendy in any respect, and he was risking a profession,” Nyswaner mentioned. “And picture going to high school, dreaming of turning into an actor. You’re a younger actor, you’re rising, you’re getting jobs, and also you say, ‘I’m going to take the danger.’”
The gala night raised $877,946. Allen herself donated $25,000 on the spot, and several other dwell public sale gadgets garnered massive {dollars}. A personal dinner for eight with Bomer went for $10,000, whereas a Harry Hamlin-made, Lisa Rinna-bartended dinner went for $10,000.
Richard Ayoub, the CEO of Venture Angel Meals, highlighted how the funds will assist gas the continued enlargement of the group’s campus — which can embody a bigger kitchen to facilitate meals for thrice as many purchasers.
“We’re in the midst of a capital marketing campaign right here at Venture Angel Meals,” Ayoub mentioned. “As a result of we now have outgrown our facility and extra folks want us. We’re making 1.5 million meals a yr 1727826878. With this capital marketing campaign, we’re going to have the ability to make 4.5 million a yr.”
“Venture Angel Meals serves folks, not statistics,” actress Emily Ozment mentioned. “I imply, the statistics are overwhelming. 18 million meals served over the past 35 years, 2,700 purchasers served each single day. However behind these numbers are actual folks, every with their very own story.”
Actor Tim Bagley was a direct beneficiary of a type of tales. When his accomplice was dying of AIDS in 1995, Venture Angel Meals stepped in to ensure he had the meals he wanted.
“When my accomplice handed away … I used to be fairly overwhelmed, and I didn’t name them immediately to inform them,” Bagley mentioned. “I simply would suppose, ‘I’ll name them tomorrow. I would like them to assist me with the meals right now.’ I simply saved placing it off for about two weeks, after which once I lastly known as the kitchen and instructed them I’d been consuming the meals. They mentioned, ‘We all know. We’ve been sending these for you.’”
In the course of the gala, actor Jeremy Piven and his sister, director Shira Piven, premiered the trailer for the upcoming movie “The Efficiency,” primarily based on the brief story by Arthur Miller. The film, set for launch in December, follows a Jewish faucet dancer recruited to carry out for Adolf Hitler in Thirties Germany. Jeremy Piven likened the bravery it took to launch Venture Angel Meals to that of the characters within the movie.
“It’s l an instance of somebody simply not ready for the okay from another person … getting meals to folks that you understand wanted it,” he mentioned.
“We each come from theater,” Shira Piven added. “There are such a lot of folks that I knew personally that have been affected [by HIV/AIDS], and I get emotional fascinated with it.”
The enlargement of the Venture Angel Meals campus is anticipated to be accomplished in 2027, although some upgrades will end by 2026.
