One-hundred thousand dollars in grants were dispersed to seven LGBTQIA+-owned and supporting bars and restaurants affected by the pandemic over the weekend at Playbill's Pride in Times Square event through a partnership with Grubhub, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and Playbill.
Among the grants awarded were $25,000 each to Henrietta Hudson and 4West and $10,000 each to Kopatiam, Baz Bagel, Pierogi Boys, The Crabby Shack, and Superfine.
Money was raised through Grubhub's Donate the Change program, which has generated tens of millions for organizations since launching in 2018. NGLCC was named the official partner of the program for Pride month 2021, raising $2 million in grants to be given out in the months that followed. In addition to targeting businesses affected by the pandemic, NGLCC specifically allocated 30% of the funds to support businesses owned by people of color and Transgender/gender non-conforming individuals.
"We often say at NGLCC that 'If you can buy it, an LGBTQ+-owned business can supply it,'" says NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson. "That is especially true of the LGBTQ+-owned restaurants across America who kept our communities and first responders fed throughout the pandemic. We’re so grateful to Grubhub for joining NGLCC, nglccNY, and Playbill for Pride in Times Square to spread some much-needed joy and inspiration to these outstanding businesses in NYC, as we have throughout the nation. America’s 1.4 million LGBTQ+-owned business owners have shown incredible resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, in turn, we can help them recover stronger than ever."
Pride in Times Square, held June 25–26, saw stage and screen stars coming together with Broadway shows, LGBTQIA+ non-profits, special Times Square business promotions, and more for a weekend-long event centered around NYC Pride weekend in Times Square between 45th and 47th streets—the heart of Broadway. The weekend also served as the debut of the first-ever Playbill Pride float, which joined the NYC Pride Parade accompanied by Broadway stars.
For more resources on supporting LGBTQIA+-owned businesses, visit NGLCC.org.
Alex Birsh, Madison Knox, and Jeffrey Vizcaíno
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Phil Birsh and Dennis Klein from Jeep
Audible Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Madison Knox, Charlotte Birsh, Alex Birsh, Phil Birsh, Odile Birsh, and Nikolai Birsh Joined the Celebration
Jeep Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Mason Alexander Park
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Playbill Employees Joined the Celebration
Nzinga Williams
Nzinga Williams
Nzinga Williams
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Frankie Grande from Titanique
Jake Boyd from Wicked
Aydin Eyikan from The Music Man
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Aydin Eyikan from The Music Man
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
J Harrison Ghee
J Harrison Ghee
Antwayn Hopper and Keirsten Hodgens
NYC Pride Grandstand Host
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Antwayn Hopper from A Strange Loop
Mykal Kilgore and Sidney Erik Wright
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Phil Birsh Marches with the 2022 Playbill Pride Float
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Sarah Dickerson and Raúl Contreras from Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Mary Kate Morrissey, Frankie Grande and Mitch Tobin
Lisa Abreu for Titanique
Aydin Eyikan, Frankie Grande, Mitch Tobin and Mason Alexander Park
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
Keirsten Hodgens, Antwayn Hopper, Mary Kate Morrissey, and J Harrison Ghee
Mitch Tobin, Aydin Eyikan, Frankie Grande and Stephen Trask on the Playbill Float
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Mary Kate Morrissey and J Harrison Ghee on the Playbill Float
Mary Kate Morrissey and J Harrison Ghee on the Playbill Float
Mary Kate Morrissey and J Harrison Ghee on the Playbill Float
Audible 2022 Pride Float
Antwayn Hopper, Keirsten Hodgens, Jake Boyd, Ricky Schroeder, Mykal Kilgore, Frankie Grande and Sidney Erik Wright on the Playbill Float
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Antwayn Hopper from A Strange Loop
Antwayn Hopper and Jake Boyd
Mitch Tobin, Aydin Eyikan, Frankie Grande and Mykal Kilgore
J Harrison Ghee
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Mykal Kilgore
Ricky Schroeder, Nzinga Williams
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Mitchell Tobin from The Music Man
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Mason Alexander Park, Stephen Trask and Antwayn Hopper
Playbill Employees and Families Joined the Celebration
J Harrison Ghee
Ricky Schroeder and J Harrison Ghee
Nzinga Williams
Mykal Kilgore and Frankie Grande
Mykal Kilgore and Frankie Grande
Mykal Kilgore and Frankie Grande
Mykal Kilgore and Frankie Grande
Frankie Grande
Mason Alexander Park
Mason Alexander Park
Mason Alexander Park and Stephen Trask
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Mason Alexander Park, Stephen Trask, Joseph DePietro, and Saverio Pescucci The Phantom of the Opera
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
ViiV Healthcare bus along the march route
ViiV Healthcare bus along the march route
Broadway Stars on The Playbill Pride Float
Broadway Stars on The Playbill Pride Float
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Audible Float in the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Mary Kate Morrissey from Wicked
ViiV Healthcare bus along the march route
ViiV Healthcare bus along the march route
J Harrison Ghee
Ricky Schroeder from Kinky Boots
A scene from the 2022 Pride March in NYC
Mykal Kilgore
Bryan Campione and Frankie Grande
Antwayn Hooper from A Strange Loop
Mason Alexander Park
Sidney Erik Wright
Phil Birsh
J Harrison Ghee
Ricky Schroeder and J Harrison Ghee
J Harrison Ghee
