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Project Angel Food’s Lead with Love Telethon Raises $589,000
By Sarah Meyer
July 12, 2026

Los Angeles gets a bad rap as a city where everyone is out for themselves. As the center of the entertainment industry, sure, there is some of that superficial swagger. But there are more Angelenos with hearts of gold, doing good for others, than there aren’t.

The most beautiful display of selflessness is through Project Angel Food. The organization began in 1989, to prepare and deliver meals to people living with HIV and AIDS. Since then, the number of meals prepared and delivered has certainly grown, but the mission has remained the same – provide nourishing meals to those facing critical and life-threatening illness. Project Angel Food delivers more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals each year. They do this with love, care and dignity.

None of it would be possible without the thousands of volunteers who donate their time and money each year. One of the non-profit’s biggest fundraisers of the year is their annual telethon. The nostalgic event draws world class entertainers and celebrities who host, sing and even answer phones as donors all over the globe show their support.

The beauty is that these celebrities don’t just show up for one glitzy night, they show up all year. Just as other volunteers do, they help prepare meals, deliver meals, advocate for the organization and those who need this service, and give their time and funds to this great cause. Telethon viewers get to see that passion firsthand.

Thanks to some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Bryan Cranston (The Studio), Noah Wyle (The Pitt), Steven Weber (Wings), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) and Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie), Project Angel Food raised $589,000 during their 2026 broadcast, which took place on June 27. The television special, Lead with Love: Going the Distance was presented by City National Bank and aired on KTLA 5. The telethon was hosted by Weber, McCormack, Loni Love and KTLA’s own Jessica Holmes.

The evening’s biggest surprise came when Weber and Wyle — both beloved for playing doctors on television — joked that they had learned so much from their roles they could probably operate on McCormack. He fired back, “If TV doctors are doing anything on me, I’m going to need much stronger drugs.” Right on cue, Cranston stepped in, invoking his iconic Breaking Bad alter ego Walter White, and deadpanned: “Did you say you would need serious drugs? I might be able to help you with that.”

On top of some great comedic outbursts, there were heartfelt moments too. Singer Clay Aiken sang “Go the Distance” from Disney’s Hercules, reminding viewers that if we all go the distance, we can make the world a better place.

Ricky Moore, a Project Angel Food driver was showcased in a moving segment that demonstrated what “going the distance” truly means. His story gave viewers an intimate look at the people behind every delivery — the drivers who bring meals, smiles, check-ins and human connection to clients who often rely on Project Angel Food as their primary source of nutrition. It’s not just the food that feeds their souls, it’s the interactions with the volunteers. Project Angel Food volunteers have proven that a warm greeting or big smile can often do just as much as a nutritious meal.

One of the evening’s most beloved moments came when Barbara Eden, the 94-year-old star of I Dream of Jeannie, appeared in a puff of pink smoke and delivered her famous “Jeannie” blink. Eded shared, “Eden added, “We all have someone in our family we can’t care enough for, this is needed.” She told veiwers she still receives fan mail nearly 60 years after I Dream of Jeannie premieried. A legend like her deserves it, and she event got a special serenade from Weber and McCormack with a cheeky rendition of the I Dream of Jeannie theme song during the telethon. Actress Morgan Fairchild and celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean also made special appearances.

“Project Angel Food offers meals that go beyond basic needs. They offer dignity and connection and a reminder that no one is forgotten,” shared California Governor Gavin Newsom, as he recalled volunteering at Project Angel Food with his family. Also delivering messages of support were Amy Poehler, Regina King, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sherri Shepherd, Adam Brody, Brooke Shields, Judith Light, Jason Ritter, Valerie Bertinelli, Lori Loughlin and Caroline Rhea.

The telethon would be unsuccessful without the crew manning the phones, and their excitement to take calls and donations was palpable. The All-Star Phone Bank included Amy Yasbeck, Bruce Vilanch, Kym Whitley, Jodie Sweetin, KTLA’s Melvin Robert, Gregory Zarian, Lawrence Zarian, Lisa Foxx and soccer great Ali Riley, who helped L.A. get into the “summer of soccer” by giving away 10 pairs of tickets to Angel City Football Club vs. Orlando Pride on July 3.

Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub joined the broadcast to celebrate the progress and completion of The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Kitchen and Campus, with new facilities completed and a second building beginning construction later this summer. “Every dollar raised tonight keeps our vans on the road and our meals reaching neighbors in their greatest time of need,” said Ayoub. “This is what Lead with Love has always stood for: dignity, nourishment and the very best of the human spirit.”

Noah Wyle and Bryan Cranston excited to see each other on the red carpet at Project Angel Food’s Lead With Love (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Project Angel Food)

It was a magical night for a marvelous cause. Angelenos, along with people from all over the globe tuned it to share their love and support for an organization that gives that and so much more to Los Angeles.

Singer Sam Harris closed out the telethon with a beautiful rendition of “Over the Rainbow” before leading the full cast in an exuberant finale of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.”

The event was produced by Emmy-winning producer Brad Bessey (Entertainment Tonight, The Talk). Michael Orland served as musical director.

The total raised is expected to increase as donations continue to be accepted at www.anelfood.org/leadwithlove.

ABOUT LEAD WITH LOVE

Created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lead with Love has become one of Los Angeles’ most inspiring televised events. Now in its seventh year and nominated for three L.A. Area Emmy Awards, the special has raised nearly $6 million for Project Angel Food, featuring more than 150 celebrity appearances, including Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand, Jimmy Kimmel, Richard Gere, Ringo Starr, Elton John and Lily Tomlin, among others.

ABOUT PROJECT ANGEL FOOD

Founded in 1989, Project Angel Food nourishes the health and spirit of vulnerable people facing critical and life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering medically tailored meals with love, care and dignity to more than 7,100 Angelenos each year. Since its founding, the organization has delivered more than 20 million meals across Los Angeles County and now provides more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals annually, along with nutrition counseling and compassionate client support. Project Angel Food is accredited by the Food is Medicine Coalition, is a Four-Star Charity Navigator organization and has twice been named California’s Nonprofit of the Year.

To learn more, visit www.angelfood.org.

The post Project Angel Food’s Lead with Love Telethon Raises $589,000 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.