Washington, D.C. —Ford’s Theatre Society announced that a donation drive during performances of A Christmas Carol has raised $83,007 for the Washington-based charity Miriam’s Kitchen. Donations were collected November 18-December 29, 2011. In addition to the curtain call collection, patrons also were encouraged to make donations through the Ford’s Theatre Box Office and members of the Ford’s Theatre Society staff donated money to the campaign. On December 8, members of the cast of A Christmas Carol volunteered at Miriam’s Kitchen, preparing and serving dinner.

“I am deeply touched and grateful for our audience’s overwhelming generosity this holiday season,” said Director of Ford’s Theatre Society Paul R. Tetreault. “This tremendous outpouring of goodwill will help Miriam’s Kitchen feed and provide critical resources for thousands in need within Washington.”

"Miriam's Kitchen is thrilled and grateful for the incredible work and generosity of Ford's Theatre's A Christmas Carol cast, crew, staff, and patrons,” said Scott Schenkelberg, executive director of Miriam’s Kitchen. “The amount of $83,000 is the single largest donation Miriam's has received this year, and it's one of the largest donations we've received in our 28-year history. This donation furthers our work with homeless men and women in the District of Columbia."

Miriam’s Kitchen
For nearly 30 years, Miriam’s Kitchen has served as a critical resource for the nearly 12,000 homeless individuals in Washington, D.C., by offering healthy meals and comprehensive case management services in a comfortable environment. Miriam’s Kitchen builds relationships with many individuals who might not otherwise seek support. The organization provides mental health and medical care, legal assistance and substance abuse services, employment resources and housing options for some of the region’s most vulnerable men and women. In 2011 alone, they served more than 4,000 homeless guests. For more information about Miriam’s Kitchen, please visit www.miriamskitchen.org or call Sara Gibson, Director of Development, at (202) 452-8926 ext. 228.

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 and Liberty Smith, Ford’s Theatre is making its mark on the American theatre landscape. For its accomplishment, the organization was honored in 2008 with the National Medal of Arts. For more information, visit www.fords.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Beyea at lbeyea@fords.org