On December 1, DIVAS 2019 was thrilled to honor Grammy, Golden Globe, Emmy winning, and 10-time Oscar nominee, legendary songwriter Diane Warrenwith the DIVAS Legacy Award.

The presentation took place at the 29th Annual DIVAS Simply Singing, an event featuring spectacular performances of Warren’s many hits. Simply Singing is the longest-running musical benefit of its kind in the country, and this year’s beneficiary was Project Angel Food.

The evening was a star-studded occasion, with guests that included honoree Diane Warren, Broadway legend Sheryl Lee Ralph (Founder of DIVAS), Deborah Cox (Singer), Shanice (Singer/Songwriter), Rhonda Ross (singer, songwriter, speaker, and actress), Kathy Sledge (Recording Artist), Mary Jo Catlett (actress, “Spongebob Squarepants”), Brandon Victor Dixon (actor/producer), Terrell Carter (“Empire”), Brandy (Singer/songwriter), Elaine Gibbs (“The X Factor”), Frankie Grande (Dancer), Shangela (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”), Lisa Raye McCoy (“Murder In The Thirst”), and many more.      

The DIVA Foundation (acronym for Divinely Inspired, Victoriously Aware) is a nonprofit 501c (3) charitable organization, founded by Sheryl Lee Ralph in 1990 as a memorial to the many friends she lost to HIV/AIDS while in the original Broadway company of “Dreamgirls.” The organization focuses on generating resources and coordinating activities to create awareness of and combat against HIV/AIDS. The DIVA Foundation utilizes music and entertainment as a vehicle to inform, educate and erase the stigma still attached to this disease. In 2005, Sheryl Lee Ralph and the DIVA Foundation received the first Red Ribbon Leadership Award at the United Nations on World AIDS Day for the unique use of the arts in fighting HIV/AIDS.

The DIVA Foundation is celebrating 29 years of committed service to community health awareness.

Since its inception thirty years ago, Project Angel Food has prepared and delivered 12 million meals – currently 15,000 per week – free of charge to men, women and children living with critical illnesses. Project Angel Food has expanded its initial mission from serving people living with HIV/AIDS to include medically tailored meals, prepared by the staff and volunteers, for those combatting cancer, kidney failure, diabetes and congestive heart disease. The mission has always remained intact, to feed and nourish the sick, by delivering healthy nutritious meals throughout 4,400 square miles of Los Angeles County. More than 98% of Project Angel Food clients are living at or below the poverty level, and Project Angel Food is their lifeline, filling a vital need in all communities. The client demographics are a testimony to this, 38% Latino, 27% African American, 24% Caucasian, 6% Asian/Pacific Islander, 1% Native American and 4% Multicultural.