New York City - The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) has announced that its 2010 donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will total $1 million, marking the largest single donation in BC/EFA history. The foundation, which is funded by royalties from the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb's vast catalog of work, makes an annual donation to BC/EFA.

"Fred Ebb was as passionate and generous as he was gifted and brilliantly creative. With John Kander, Fred gave us some of the most delightful and groundbreaking musicals of the last 50 years. Now, he has given us all another remarkable gift," said Tom Viola, BC/EFA's executive director. "This extraordinary award of $1 million is the largest single donation made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in its history. In these very challenging times, this gift enables us to hold steady in our support for the important work of The Actors Fund and more than 400 AIDS and family service organizations across the country. Indeed Fred answers the infamous question he so famously posed in Chicago: 'Whatever happened to class?' Fred, it's you. All you. Thank you."

The Fred Ebb Foundation, in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) also presents an annual award, named for Ebb, to aspiring musical theatre songwriters. This year's award, which includes a $50,000 prize, was presented to Douglas J. Cohen. Past winners include John Bucchino (2005), Steve Lutvak and Robert L. Freedman (2006), Peter Mills (2007), Adam Gwon (2008), and Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich (2009).