Project Angel Food

Project Angel Food is a nonprofit agency whose mission is to nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Volunteers and staff cook and deliver free and nutritious meals prepared with love throughout Los Angeles County, acting out of a sense of urgency because hunger and illness do not wait. In 2010, the agency cooked and delivered more than 735,000 meals to people in need; Since its creation, the agency has provided nearly 8 million meals to thousands of people struggling with life-threatening illnesses.

Time-line

• 1989 The Project Angel Food Program is founded by Marianne Williamson as an outreach program of the Los Angeles Center for Living. Daily meals served = 15.
• 1990 The Project Angel Food Program moves into the kitchen of the Crescent Heights United Methodist Church. The first "Angel Art," chaired by Berry and Anthony Perkins, raises over $540,000. Daily meals served = 90. Alias Records releases Acoustic Music Project, an album of songs benefiting Project Angel Food, featuring artists such as Penelope Houston, Ed Haynes, Alex Chilton, American Music Club and many others.
• 1991 Daily meals served = 250.
• 1992 Elizabeth Taylor's AIDS Foundation provides Project Angel Food its first grant of $150,000. Daily meals served = 350.
• 1993 The Center for Living formally changes its name to Project Angel Food and moves its offices to an old production office on Sunset Boulevard.
• 1994 Daily meals served = 650.
• 1995 Daily meals served = 700.
• 1996 Meal delivery expands to include Long Beach. Daily meals served = 750.
• 1997 Daily meals served = 850.
• 1998 Kitchen begins frozen meal delivery to allow clients to fit their meal schedule to their medicine regimen. Staff includes 34 full-time and 17 part- time employees. Daily meals served = 900.
• 1999 Two millionth meal served. Elizabeth Taylor agrees to accept Angel Award. Daily meals served = 1,200.
• 2000 Project Angel Food opens a satellite kitchen in the city of Compton.Daily meals served = 1,116
• 2001 Whoopi Goldberg is honored at Angel Awards. Elizabeth Taylor returns to Project Angel Food to present the honor.
• 2002 Total meals served in 2002 = 412,446. Average daily meals served = 1,129.
• 2003 Steve Bing donates funds to create a television public service announcement featuring basketball star Rick Fox encouraging people to get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS and discrimination, and to support Project Angel Food. Average daily meals served = 1,028.
• 2004 A six-month "Breakfast Program" pilot is implemented to provide a second meal to 35 clients who need it most. Average daily meals served = 1054. Total meals served through 2004 = 3,720,538.
• 2005 City of Los Angeles, with the strong support of Councilman Tom LaBonge, provides Project Angel Food with $400,000 federal grant for purchase of new building/. project Angel Food volunteer board of directors launches $5 million capital campaign. 4 millionth meal is delivered from the Sunset Boulevard facility. Pilot breakfast program is expanded to bring meals to those most in need, as dertermined by the agency's dieticians.
• 2006 Project Angel Food purchases a building at 922 Vine Street in Hollywood for its new permanent home.
• 2007 Shirley MacLaine and Xorin Balbes are honored at Angel Awards.
• 2008 The agency's kitchen receives a perfect 100% score from the Los Angeles County Department of Health. Margaret Steele takes over the helm from long-time leader John Gile as the new CEO.
• 2009 The agency celebrates it's 20th year of service to the Los Angeles community.
• 2010 Urban Garden program is initiated to grow and harvest fruits and vegetables in community gardens and plots of vacant city land with the help of volunteers for use in meals for people served.
• 2011 Nearly 8 million meals have been served since the agency's creation.