Broadway Sleeps Under the Stars to Raise Funds for Covenant House

On Sunday, August 17, The Covenant House will hold the Second Annual Sleep Out: Broadway Edition. Members of the Broadway community will spend the night sleeping on the streets outside the Covenant House to raise much-needed funds for homeless youth.

"These are stars who have selflessly decided they want to walk in our kids' shoes, and experience, if only for one night, some of what our kids go through," said Covenant House President Kevin Ryan. "Their actions are an incredible show of support for the thousands of young people struggling to survive every night on our streets."

Among the members of the Broadway community participating are Sebastian Arcelus ("A Time to Kill"), Adriane Lenox ("After Midnight"), Caissie Levy ("Les Miserables"), Rory O'Malley ("The Book of Mormon"), Darius de Haas ("Rent"), Rita Harvey ('Fiddler on the Roof"), Cameron Adams ("Nice Work if You Can Get It"), Rachel Brosnahan ("The Big Knife"), Rosalind Brown ("One Mo' Time"), Dana Marie Ingraham ("Motown The Musical"), Tamika Lawrence ("If/Then"), Jason Ralph ("Peter and the Starcatcher"), Gayle Rankin, Dennis Stowe ("Aladdin"), Tad Wilson ("Bonnie and Clyde"), Kevin Carolan ("Newsies The Musical"), Brian Carson, Anastacia McCleskey ("Violet"), Melissa Mitchell, Karla Mosley, Brooke Rowzee, Rachel Stern ("Shrek - the musical") and Rachel Sussman.

"I'm honored to be a part of the Broadway community as we step up to this worthy cause with our hearts wide open," said Executive Committee Member Capathia Jenkins ("Newsies"). "This is a great opportunity to raise money, raise awareness and most importantly 'sleep' in solidarity with the extraordinary kids of Covenant House."

Sleep Out: Broadway Edition is a one-night fundraising event, beginning with an evening of dialogue between formerly homeless teenagers and participating Sleepers. Kids share their stories and answer questions about their lives. After a light supper, tours of the shelter and continued conversation, sleepers will receive cardboard boxes, sleeping bags and a safe piece of pavement in a secure, enclosed and protected space for the night.

"I am sleeping out for homeless youth because I know how blessed I am and how much I have been blessed by the kids at Covenant House. I am committed to helping these kids reach their bright futures," said Executive Committee Member Stephanie J. Block.

Founded in 1972, Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas helping homeless kids, providing 24/7 crisis care and ongoing support at 21 facilities.

Covenant House provides food, shelter, immediate crisis care, and essential services to homeless, throwaway, and runaway kids in 21 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. They strive to move each young person forward to an independent adulthood, free from the risk of future homelessness.