Kevin Bacon PLAY ON (Executive Produced by Kevin Bacon): A National Broadcast for Change
Driven by a commitment to social change, Kevin Bacon spearheaded the "PLAY ON" benefit concert special, bringing together music, film, and television stars to support WhyHunger and the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund (LDF). His vision, brought to life through the Play On Fund created by SixDegrees.Org, resulted in over $7 million raised to combat hunger and advance racial justice. Donations poured in through sponsors, generous viewers during the CBS broadcast, and continued support via YouTube and a celebrity auction featuring exclusive experiences and memorabilia.
“Together, we raised $7.3 million in order to amplify the work of WhyHunger and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund,” said Stacy Huston, Executive Director of SixDegrees.Org. “We are thrilled with the response to the PLAY ON benefit concert special. We wanted to end the year amplifying the most pressing issues we face as a nation. Many of the songs spoke about justice and this powerful show left us all more hopeful. We are so proud of the work that everyone involved has done to generate awareness for these organizations.”
PLAY ON was executive produced by Kevin Bacon, iconic international fashion designer John Varvatos, Rock the Bells founder and CEO LL COOL J, esteemed CBS This Morning anchor Anthony Mason, and prominent benefit concert producers Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter. Celebrated Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Steve Jordan served as music director for the concert special.
Food for Thought:
- Partnership - The Perfect Pairing: Kevin Bacon and a powerhouse team united music and mission, partnering WhyHunger and the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund (LDF) in the "PLAY ON" benefit. Celebrity meets cause, amplified.
- Impact - The Main Course: National broadcast, digital donations, massive impact. "PLAY ON" raised $7.3 million, spotlighting two interconnected issues, hunger and racial justice, proving entertainment can fuel real change.
- Key Takeaways - Savoring Success: This benefit concert's success proves a powerful formula for social change: big events + impactful partnerships. The WhyHunger and LDF collaboration underscored the crucial link between food insecurity and racial justice, amplifying the impact exponentially.
Photo credit: Diane Bondareff
