Debbie Allen took center stage at Project Angel Food ’s Angel Awards Sept. 29 in Hollywood, honored with only the second Humanitarian Angel Award in the nonprofit’s history. Project Angel Food was launched by activist Marianne Williamson in 1989 to help bring healthy meals to those afflicted with HIV/AIDS in the Los Angeles area.
It has since expanded to provide medically tailored meals to people suffering for all types of illness and food insecurities. “Project Angel Food has a very special place in my heart, because ‘Fame’ is a big part of my life,” Allen said. “I lost half of my dance company to AIDS, and that was tough.
That was hard. And to have an organization that at its beginnings, that’s the focus and the core ..
. to help those who are being treated like [they have] leprosy and not allowed to be part of the team. And I’m so grateful for that.
” The Emmy-winning actress, producer, director and choreographer was recognized for her decades of philanthropic work, which includes launching Los Angeles’ Debbie Allen Dance Academy and the Debbie Allen Middle School. “This is ground zero towards humanity. It’s something that we need to remember, something that we got to get back to.
We kind of lost our moral spine in this country. We not our brother and our sisters’ keepers anymore. We have to go and give back to those who are in need and those who can’t help themselves,” Allen said.
“To just bear witness to [Allen’s] achievements is to know.