ABOVE: Project Angel Food participants. Photo via producer Brad Bessey’s Twitter.
Los Angeles charity Project Angel Food succeeded in raising $1,126,090 far surpassing their fundraising goal of $800,000 in their 2021 telethon which aired on KTLA 5 July 17. The telethon, LEAD WITH LOVE 2021 was presented by City National Bank.
Hosted by by “Will & Grace” star Eric McCormack and KTLA anchor Jessica Holmes along with Loni Love and Alec Mapa as co-hosts, the evening broadcast opened with a surprise greeting from British Rockstar musician Ringo Starr.
“It’s been a difficult year for everyone, and Project Angel Food is thankful to have received so much support from friends and the community and providing the funding needed to sustain the expanded service to those in need, preparing and delivering over one million medically tailored meals to our most vulnerable neighbors,” Project Angel Food Executive Director Richard Ayoub said. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude and inspiration. The success of this tells me Los Angeles is with us every step of the way.”
A good deal of celebrity star power helped to boost the donations which were taken in by phone, online and text. Loni Love, author, and host of “The Real,” presented her $25,000 winnings from her recent appearance on ABC’s “Celebrity Family Feud.” Her donation joined that of actor Jamie Lee Curtis who called in live via Skype, made a $10,000 gift from her family foundation.
The Herb Ritts Foundation offered a “match challenge” of $75,000, agreeing to match donations coming in over an hour up to $75,000. The match was reached in just 27 minutes.
Other big donors for the night included: $50,000 each from Susanna Blinkoff & Jordan Corngold, Connie Frank, and Mary Fisher; $30,000 National Rongxiang Xu Foundation & Human Heritage Project; $26,000 from Michael J. Libow; $25,000 from Stanley and Joyce Black Family Foundation, Block Party WeHo, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, WEN Hair and Body Care by Chaz Dean, Whole Foods Market and Main Street Catering.
A special tribute was paid to chef Randy Nakamura, who died from COVID this past year, by celebrity chefs Cat Cora and Stuart O’Keeffe, and actor Brad Garrett, who met Chef Randy at Project Angel Food. Eric McCormack then led a toast, lifting a glass with all the stars in studio to Chef Randy, followed by a special performance by LeAnn Rimes, singing “Throw My Arms Around the World,” beautifully capturing the spirit of the evening.
Highlights and behind-the-scenes of the night can be seen at Project Angel Food’s website. It’s still possible to donate by texting LOVE20 to 50155.
