Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Executive Director Tom Viola announced that he’ll retire from the nonprofit at the end of 2024, ending a 36-year tenure that saw the organization persevere through two pandemics and emerge as one of the most impactful fundraising and grant-making organizations in the country.
Current Broadway Cares Director of Development Danny Whitman, who’s been with the nonprofit for 15 years, will succeed Viola as executive director, beginning January 1, 2025. Viola will remain involved with the organization as a consultant throughout 2025, advising on Broadway Cares’ National Grants Program strategies and procedures.
“Few, if any, have served the theater community with more heart, dedication, determination and distinction than Tom Viola,” said Robert E. Wankel, president of the Broadway Cares Board of Trustees and chairman and CEO of The Shubert Organization. “Tom nurtured goodwill and trust throughout the theater community in the toughest of times, building Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS into an integral part of our industry that has reached out to millions of people in crisis through the years. Fortunately, along the way, he created a solid infrastructure and I’m certain that Danny Whitman is ready to lead the organization in this next chapter, ensuring Broadway Cares’ vital philanthropic work will continue long into the future.”
Known as the philanthropic heart of the Broadway community, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has awarded more than $300 million under Viola’s leadership: $142 million to the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) and another $160 million to 450 local organizations nationwide through its National Grants Program providing meals and medication, health care and hope to countless individuals and families.
When COVID-19 caused Broadway to shut down for an unprecedented 18 months. Viola, with Whitman at his side, led the organization’s temporary transformation into a digital fundraiser and virtual event producer, building an extraordinary major donor program that fueled the industry-focused COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund.
During and immediately after the shutdown in 2020 and 2021, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS provided more than $18 million to the Entertainment Community Fund for direct emergency financial assistance for members of the performing arts and entertainment industry.
For more information, please visit Broadway Cares online at broadwaycares.org, at facebook.com/BCEFA, at instagram.com/BCEFA, at tiktok.com/@bcefa and at youtube.com/BCEFA.
