Project Angel Food announced today that it will honor six-time Emmy Award winner, five-time NAACP Image Award winner, Golden Globe winner, Debbie Allen Dance Academy and Debbie Allen Middle School founder and philanthropist Debbie Allen with the Humanitarian Angel Award at the highly anticipated Angel Awards on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Hollywood, while Emmy-nominated actor Matt Bomer will be recognized with the 2024 Angel Award. In addition, L.A. Care Health Plan and its CEO, John Baackes, will receive the Sheryl Lee Ralph Legacy Award. Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer Deborah Cox will give a special performance, as Project Angel Food celebrates its landmark 35th Anniversary.

The 2024 Angel Awards Gala will be held at Milk Studios in Hollywood, while construction is underway on Project Angel Food’s Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Campus which will double the size of Project Angel Food’s existing facilities and triple capacity. Project Angel Food prepares and delivers more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals to 5,272 critically ill individuals in Los Angeles County each year.

Project Angel Food’s Angel Awards are made possible with generous support from Presenting Sponsor L.A. Care Health Plan, along with Title Sponsor Wells Fargo. Celebrity auctioneer Billy Harris will lead this year’s live auction which will feature one-of-a-kind culinary experiences.

Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub said, "The Angel Awards are a testament to the incredible individuals who inspire us and propel our mission forward. It’s an evening of celebration, gratitude, and unity, where we come together to support the work of Project Angel Food that nourishes our vulnerable neighbors, delivers health and hope, and uplifts our entire community.”

About Humanitarian Angel Award Recipient: Debbie Allen

In a career spanning more than four decades, Debbie Allen’s vast body of work has earned her six Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, five NAACP Image Awards, a Drama Desk Award, an Astaire Award (for Best Dancer), and the Olivier Award. Allen holds five honorary Doctorate degrees and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was appointed by President George W. Bush to represent the United States as a Cultural Ambassador of Dance. Allen is a Kennedy Center Honoree and has been an artist in residence at the Center for more than 15 years, creating original works with the legendary Arturo Sandoval and James Ingram, such as: "Pepito’s Story,” "Brothers of the Knight,” "Dreams,” "Alex in Wonderland,” "Soul Possessed,” "Pearl,” "Dancing in the Wings,” "Oman O Man,” and "Freeze Frame...Stop the Madness.” Her long list of directing and producing credits includes television and film classics such as "Fame," "Scandal," "How to Get Away with Murder," "Jane the Virgin," "Empire," "A Different World," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Stompin’ At The Savoy," "Polly," "That’s So Raven," "Cool Women," "Quantum Leap," "The Fantasia Barrino Story," and Academy Award-nominated "Amistad;" her on stage credits include "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and Tony-nominated "Sweet Charity" and "West Side Story." She is currently an Executive Producer as well as a director and actress on ABC's "Grey’s Anatomy."

About Sheryl Lee Ralph Legacy Award Recipient: John Baackes and L.A. Care Health Plan

John Baackes is the CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation's largest publicly operated health plan. He collaborates with L.A. Care’s Board of Governors to set the strategic vision and oversee daily operations. Before joining L.A. Care, Mr. Baackes was President of AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Plans, and he currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Charles Drew University. He also holds positions on several other notable boards, including being a trustee for Project Angel Food, after serving six years on its Board of Directors.

L.A. Care Health Plan serves more than 2.5 million members in Los Angeles County. L.A. Care offers four product lines, including Medi-Cal and L.A. Care Covered. The mission-driven health plan prioritizes health care quality, access, and inclusion, and is committed to advancing health equity.

About 2024 Angel Award Recipient: Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer is one of Hollywood’s top actors today. After earning a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, he moved to New York, where he worked on productions like "Spring Awakening" and "Grey Gardens." He soon landed the lead in the ABC series "Traveler" and had recurring roles in "Tru Calling" and "Chuck" before starring as ‘Neal Caffrey’ on USA Network’s "White Collar," which aired for six seasons and received critical acclaim.

In 2014, Bomer starred in "The Normal Heart," earning an Emmy® nomination, a Golden Globe, and a Critics Choice Award. He made his directorial debut in 2018 with "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" and appeared in the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of "The Boys in The Band."

Bomer’s film work includes a recent role in "Maestro" alongside Carey Mulligan, directed by Bradley Cooper. The film, which premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, was nominated for Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards.

Most recently, Bomer starred in and executive produced Showtime’s adaptation of "Fellow Travelers." His role as ‘Hawkins Fuller’ earned him nominations from the Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He is currently nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. His three sons, Kit, Walker, and Henry, volunteer regularly in Project Angel Food’s kitchen and in delivering meals.

About Headline Performer: Deborah Cox

Deborah Cox possesses one of the most powerful and versatile contemporary voices of our time. The Grammy Award-nominated, multi-platinum R&B/Pop recording artist and actress has captivated audiences worldwide, most recently starring in and producing "The Wiz" on Broadway. She garnered critical acclaim for her role as Rachel Marron in the musical "The Bodyguard," a role originally played by Whitney Houston, and made her Broadway debut as the lead in Elton John and Tim Rice’s "Aida." In 2013, she starred in the revival of "Jekyll & Hyde," and as the legendary Josephine Baker in the original musical "Josephine" at the Asolo Repertory Theatre.

A longtime supporter of Project Angel Food, Deborah has appeared twice in the organization’s "Lead with Love" primetime special on KTLA 5 and performed at the Gathering of Angels Garden Party in 2019. Beginning her career as a background singer for Celine Dion, Deborah has recorded six critically acclaimed albums, written for numerous soundtracks, and achieved 13 No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her second album, "One Wish," featured the double platinum hit "Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here," which held the record for the longest-running #1 R&B single, earning her multiple awards and nominations. Beyond her music and acting career, Deborah has spent 30 years inspiring and empowering women, and she recently launched KAZAISU, a refined and sustainable line of wines that is both elegant and accessible to a broad market.

About Project Angel Food

Project Angel Food nourishes the health and spirit of vulnerable people facing critical and life-threatening illness by preparing and delivering more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals each year with love, care, and dignity. Since its founding in 1989, during the AIDS crisis by Marianne Williamson, Project Angel Food has delivered more than 18 million meals. Project Angel Food is a Four-Star Rated Charity Navigator organization, a Platinum GuideStar/Candid charity, and has twice been named California’s Nonprofit of the Year.

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