I would put it into a high interest account and use it for an “emergency fund” for my family and my neighborhood friends here in the theatre and music community in NYC as needed…Anytime the child of a musician/actor/backstage techie/conductor/choreographer needed some type of medical treatment, and their insurance was either gone or not enough, there would be a substantial, if not total, contribution from me. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to bail out my friends and family and take any degree of worry out of our lives where children are concerned — One of the my greatest points of envy is toward Rosie O’Donnell because of the incredible work she is financially able to do for children — she gives away an absolute fortune through her charities and I know that if I were to have a spare million that I would chose to follow her excellent example.

I would give it to a local homeless shelter with diverse mainstreaming programs.

If I HAD to give the money away I would do some research and then give it towards a good art education program, probably for kids. In doing this, I would hope to unleash creative skills that are discourage by our popular culture. Kids watch far too much TV, need to read more, and use their imagination in positve ways.

A rather strange question to ask at this time given that many of us have seen our portfolio take deep dives and some of us don’t have a pot to pee in, while others are trying to hold on for dear life. So to imagine giving away a million dollars takes a good bit of imagining. I also assume that it’s a straight million after taxes. My answer would have been different before this crisis, but now I would give a big chunk of it to local poverty programs. Some of it I’d like to see go to the paralyzed veterans program which I now support. Whatever little is left I’d give to one of my sons––the one who needs it the most.

I would give the first Ten percent to my Church. Then I would give the next to Feed The Children , split between the programs to feed America’s kids and the world fund. Next would be Habitat for Humanity. The fourth $100,000 to the local 4-H and FFA programs . Then I would send $100,000 to Dennis Peron for his housing of teens that have been disowned by their families for there sexual orientation. I would also give to Mast Cell disorder research. I would set $100,000 in a trust for any one of the young people I personally know that need help with treatment for Bi-Polar disorder. The next would go to our Local schools for Arts and Music programs. The ninth $100,000 to LSU and Tulane’s research for Sickle cell disease . The last I would give My friend Anita a down payment for housing and the last would go into our neighborhood fund to complete our Solar power project.

I would buy a building for a “WELLNESS CENTER” for the Homless and people who did not have Health Care .I would give away vitamins and have education classes about NUTRITION ..I would find Doctors & Nurses who would donate their time and services .I would have a Pharamasist and have Meds that people need to take to stay alive on hand @ all times …in-case some poor person doesnt have the money for thier MEDS …I would take everyone and anyone with-out all the PAPER work and investigation’s that State people do and just for the POOR PERSON to Hear Sorry you dont Qualify …EVERYONE would Qualify ….ANYONE …I wouldn’t turn one person away ..

With one million dollars I’d seek out some free but solid expertise and support to create a non-profit organization which would enable business cooperatives to spring up and flourish between entrepreneurial and creative women with limited resources in The US and Haiti.

Into education- specifically the arts, music and foreign language. My sister-in-law and I just produced this piece. Hope you enjoy it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=derJzE2h9bQ