Hello,

COVID-19 devastated the entire world and left many homeless, jobless and otherwise hopeless. No one was exempt from the reach of the pandemic. The Broadway community, My Community, especially felt the grip of this traumatic experience. The entire industry shut down leaving us with no work, no prospect of work and very little in the way of financial support. I started “Helping Hand” to do what I could to be of assistance to my friends, my coworkers and my chosen family. My initial Goal was to raise $2,500.00 , which we exceeded, that would be used to award 25 people with $100.00 grants for the purpose of buying groceries or paying towards utilities or any other bills they may have had. Recipients needed to prove their affiliation with the Broadway community as well as prove financial hardship. Times were tough for us all but I truly believed that if we all gave a little we could help, those who really needed it, a whole lot. I wanted to show the world that we the Broadway community are truly in this together. During that process I began to realize, through conversation and the applications process, that many members of the Broadway community had been facing adversity and financial crisis while facilitating Broadway Musicals.

This realization convicted me and proved to me that our community needed a fund that would offer Timely, Direct financial Support for those in desperate immediate crisis. Indeed there are other funds that are designed to support our community in this fashion but they require long waits and invasive process which can be demeaning and down right condescending. Bridging the gap between Theater Supporters and Theater Makers is our function here at “Helping Hand”. We operate with urgency and transparency and only gather information needed to release funding. Those who Donate will be able to see their contribution directly affect the recipients. Those who receive funding will have the option to directly communicate with the donors. Our Goal is to reinforce the idea that we, both on stage and in the seats, are truly “in this together”.

At the time of this Letter “Helping Hand” is in the filing process for our 501(c)3 status and are collecting funds via Gofundme.com (tap helping Hand LOGO to DONATE). We are hopeful that we will have received our Non-Profit status by September 2022.

Thank you greatly for your consideration and please do give. The world is currently in a perpetual state of crisis. The Broadway Community seems to have found its self in a never ending cycle of pain. With your generosity Theatre makers from all 41 Broadway houses will be able to do what that love to do and not what they have

to do to survive.

Thank you

J.Daughtry

Actor/singer/Dancer