Launched as separate entities in the late 1980s, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is a nonprofit, grant-making organization that helps people to access critical healthcare, life-saving medications, healthy meals, and emergency financial assistance. It provides more money than any other organization to the HIV/AIDS Initiative, The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts, and other Entertainment Community Fund social service programs. It also awards grants to over 450 family service organizations each year.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has awarded more than $300 million for critical services for people living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses since its inception. In 2024 alone, it awarded $15.8 million to more than 460 AIDS and family service organizations, as well as members of the performing arts community requiring financial assistance.
Below are some of the flagship events through which Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raises money for its grant-making programs.
1. Broadway Backwards
A musical celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and their unique stories, Broadway Backwards began as a grassroots movement with the first show taking place at the LGBT Community Center in New York City in 2006. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS began producing the annual show at select Broadway venues in 2010 and has helped it to grow into a million-dollar fundraiser. The 2025 event, held at the Gershwin Theatre on March 10, raised a record $1.11 million and featured performances from Grammy nominee Adam Lambert and Tony winners Kelli O’Hara, J. Harrison Ghee, Gregory Jbara, and Len Cariou.
Jenn Colella hosted the 19th edition of the event, while The New York Times, United Airlines, and City National Bank returned as lead sponsors. Since its inception, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $9.7 million for the LGBT Community Center and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
2. Broadway Bares
What started out as a small fundraiser organized by Jerry Mitchell and the company of The Will Rogers Follies in 1992 has grown into a magical evening—and a significant fundraiser—featuring fierce dancers and Broadway performers. The original event raised $8,000 and, by Broadway Bares crossed the $100,000 mark 1995. It raised more than $1 million for the first time in 2010 and, like Broadway Backwards, set a new fundraising record ($2.45 million) in 2025.
This year’s event, held at the Hammerstein Ballroom, played to two sold-out audiences and featured the online Stripathon fundraiser, which generated more than $1.2 million. Bradley Gibson starred as the lead performer Dante in the Oz-inspired show and was “welcomed into a queer, dazzling world of Oz” by a series of outrageous characters played by Tony winners J. Harrison Ghee, Jak Malone, Alex Newell, and André De Shields, among other actors. Tony winner Nicole Scherzinger, who recently starred as aging silent film star Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., performed a sultry rendition of the Pussycat Dolls’ song “Buttons.”
3. Broadway Barks
Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore founded Broadway Barks, an annual dog and cat adoption event now produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The event has helped hundreds of New York City shelter animals find forever homes. In addition, it has educated the public on spay and neuter programs, usually with the help of renowned Broadway performers and other celebrities.
Peters co-hosted the 2025 event, held on July 12 at Shubert Alley, with Tony winner Beth Leavel, while several 2025 Tony winners and nominees, including Audra McDonald, David Hyde Pierce, Jasmine Amy Rogers, and Cole Escola, introduced the animals. Since the first event in 1999, Broadway Barks has facilitated the adoption of over 2,200 animals.
“There is nothing better than having an animal to come home to,” said Tony nominee Julia Knitel, who rescued an orange tabby cat five years prior while traveling with Come From Away. “And being able to give a sweet loving home to an animal that needs one is truly such a mutually beneficial experience. It’s the best thing you can do to enrich your life and theirs.”
4. Broadway Bets
Founded in 2015, Broadway Bets is an annual Texas Hold’em poker tournament that brings together Broadway producers and performers, theater owners, celebrities, and fans. More than 360 poker players participated in the 2025 tournament, held on May 19 at the iconic Sardi’s restaurant. Attorney Jeffrey Korn won the 37-table tournament, beating actress and opera singer Audrey Federici in the final showdown. Tony winners Kenny Leon and Alex Timers, Emmy winners Mike Myers and Hank Azaria, and poker pro Andy Frankenberger were among the other players.
The 2025 Broadway Bets game night raised a record $546,600, up from $540,060 in 2024. It has now raised a combined $2.7 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
5. Broadway Run
Attracting hundreds of Broadway stars and fans each year, the annual Broadway Run is comprised of 5K and 10K races on Governors Island in New York City. The inaugural event in 2015 raised $9,110. Broadway Run has since grown, exceeding the $100,000 threshold in 2019 and 2023. More than 2,000 people participated in 2025, raising $59,874. Jen Ash, stage manager at A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, led all competitors by raising $1,521.