Sheryl Lee Ralph will be recognized for three decades of contributions to Project Angel Food. (photo courtesy of Project Angel Food)

Project Angel Food will honor Sheryl Lee Ralph with the inaugural Sheryl Lee Ralph Legacy Award at the Angel Awards on Saturday, Sept. 23, in Hollywood.

AIDS activist, artist and author Mary Fisher will receive the 2023 Angel Award, a distinction previously bestowed on Judith Light, Elizabeth Taylor, George Michael, Sharon Stone and Whoopi Goldberg. Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer and mental health pioneer Jewel will perform in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of her second studio album “Spirit,” which was released on Nov. 17, 1998. The Angel Awards Gala will be held at Project Angel Food’s Hollywood kitchen on Vine Street, and the parking lot will be transformed into a beautiful “ballroom under the stars” with a menu provided by Angelini Osteria.

Ralph’s commitment to Project Angel Food spans three decades to when the organization. Having moved to Hollywood after the success of her Broadway hit “Dreamgirls,” Ralph saw volunteers coming in and out of the church kitchen that was Project Angel Food’s home at the time, and she decided to get involved because she knew many people impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub said the Legacy Award was created to honor Ralph’s support and contributions in perpetuity.

“When no one, and I mean no one, would stand up for people living with AIDS, Sheryl Lee Ralph risked her career and her livelihood to do what was right. She had seen too much suffering and wanted to help,” Ayoub said. “That commitment to those in need has not wavered in 34 years. This new Sheryl Lee Ralph Legacy Award is long overdue.”

From bringing characters to life on screen, performing on Broadway, serving as a producer and being actively involved in philanthropic endeavors, Ralph has become a staple in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning over four decades. In 2022, she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Support Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and was nominated again for the series’ second season.

Fisher is an outspoken activist for the prevention, education and compassionate treatment of people with HIV and AIDS. She has received five honorary doctorate degrees, authored six books and delivered numerous inspiring speeches. Fisher serves on Project Angel Food’s Board of Directors.

For information, visit angelfood.org.