Ford's Theatre Cast of A CHRISTMAS CAROL Raises $88,000 for Food & Friends

Ford's Theatre Society announced that a donation drive during performances of this season's "A Christmas Carol" has raised $88,067 for Food & Friends. This brings the "A Christmas Carol" company's eight-year totals to more than $639,595 raised for Washington charities that aid thousands within the D.C.-area who struggle with hunger, illness and homelessness.

Donations were collected for Food & Friends from November 17 to December 26, 2016. In addition to a collection at each curtain call, patrons were encouraged to make donations through the Ford's Theatre Box Office, and members of the "A Christmas Carol" company and Ford's Theatre Society staff contributed to the campaign.

Since 2009, "A Christmas Carol" audiences, cast, crew and staff have partnered with N Street Village, Bread for the City, Covenant House Washington, Martha's Table, Miriam's Kitchen, So Others Might Eat (SOME) and Thrive DC to collect funds in the spirit of giving and charity expressed in Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol."

"The generosity of our patrons and 'A Christmas Carol' company serve as a powerful reminder of humanity's collective propensity for kindness towards our fellow man," said Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault. "Every single donation matters as Food & Friends carries out their mission to provide food and nutritional counseling for individuals and families living with life-changing illness."

"What a generous gift from the entire Ford's Theatre community. Seeing the talented cast raise money and share the mission of Food & Friends from the stage has been a highlight of the year. We are incredibly grateful," said Craig Shniderman, Executive Director of Food & Friends.

Food & Friends

Food & Friends is a Washington, D.C.,-based nonprofit organization that provides home-delivered, specialized meals and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. Food & Friends' services are free of charge to recipients who qualify solely based on their health status and nutritional need. Monday-Saturday, including holidays, staff and volunteers deliver to 5,300 square miles including the District of Columbia, seven counties in Maryland, and seven counties and six independent cities in Virginia. Since 1988, Food & Friends has delivered more than 20 million meals to 30,000 individuals. For more information, please visit www.foodandfriends.org, Facebook (/foodandfriends), Twitter (@foodandfriends) or Instagram (@foodandfriendsdc).

Ford's Theatre Society

Since reopening in 1968, more than a hundred years after President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, Ford's Theatre has celebrated Lincoln's legacy and explored the American experience through theatre and education. Under the leadership of Director Paul R. Tetreault, Ford's Theatre has been recognized for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the nationally acclaimed "Big River" to the world premieres of "Meet John Doe," "The Heavens Are Hung In Black," "LiberTy Smith," "Necessary Sacrifices," "The Widow Lincoln" and "The Guard," Ford's Theatre is making its mark on the American theatre landscape. For its accomplishments, the organization was honored in 2008 with the National Medal of Arts. For more information, visit www.fords.org.

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