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Volunteer Spotlight: Joseph Macchia  Whenever you see flowers at a Broadway Cares event, Joseph Macchia probably designed and donated them. But he doesn’t stop there – he also donates trees, wreaths, drapery and sprays. You name it, he’s got it and gives it to us. In fact, his arrangements are so beautiful that many performers, including Patti LaBelle, won’t leave the stage without them. Appropriately, Joseph, who owns Joseph John Designs, is from Floral Park Queens. Seven Years Good Luck These days, Joseph’s hooked on all things Broadway, but when he started volunteering with us over seven year ago, he had never seen a Broadway show. “My first day here, I was afraid,” Joseph admits. “I had never been to a show, and here I was, stuffing envelopes alongside seasoned Broadway vets. But I loved listening to them tell their stories, and they made me laugh. I’m glad I stayed. I’m glad I kept coming back.” The first Broadway Cares event that Joe ever attended was the Annual Broadway Flea Market in Shubert Alley. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be a part of this. I saw the whole community coming together in one day. I keep coming back now because it makes me feel good, knowing that I’m doing something for someone else. So many people ask me, ‘Are you positive?’ I’m not, but that makes me ask, ‘Why? Do you have to have AIDS to help people who do?’ I don’t think so.” Doing More than His Share Joseph’s an important part of all of our staple events now, getting involved in countless ways. He not only designs the stage and display areas for our annual Broadway Bears auction, he’s even won a few of the prized teddy bears, including the ones from 42 nd Street, Showboat and The Will Rogers Follies. He’s also recruited his own bowling teams for Up Our Alley, Classical Action’s annual benefit bowling bonanza. “This year we called ourselves ‘Divas, Strikes and Balls, Oh, My!’” And, since catching the “theatre bug” himself, Joseph recently began producing his own cabaret series for BC/EFA, called, not surprisingly, Cabaret Cares. These Monday night musical fundraisers brought in more than $8,000 for BC/EFA in their first year. “Working with Broadway Cars is good ground work,” Joseph notes. “I learned a lot from you. I keep coming back because I feel like you’re extended family now. I’ve made a lot of friends here.” In 2002, Dancers Responding to AIDS gave Joseph their prestigious Remember Project Award, honoring him for his dedicated service to that commemorative event, where year after year he magically transformed the dancers’ stage memorial into a somber but beautiful winter scene. Joseph Macchia certainly keeps us in roses. Thanks, Joe!
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