Idina Menzel and Rapper Darryl McDaniels Collab on 'Incredible' Night to Raise More Than $1 Million for Kids (Exclusive)

Katie HillSat, May 23, 2026 at 2:43 PM UTC

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Credit: Michael Kushner -

Broadway star Idina Menzel and Run-DMC rapper Darryl McDaniels hosted "Celebrate This Way" on May 18 in New York City, raising more than $1 million for their charities, A BroaderWay and The Felix Organization

Menzel and McDaniels first brought their organizations together in summer 2025 to create Camp Felix A BroaderWay

The event featured performances by campers, live auctions, and duets with Menzel and McDaniels

Idina Menzel and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels are always down to grab the mic when it comes to the kids.

The Broadway star, known for originating the role of Elphaba in Wicked, and the rapper, known for his involvement in the rap group Run-DMC, brought their respective charities together in New York City on May 18 for a night of singing, dancing, bidding, and fun. They called the night "Celebrate This Way" and raised more than $1 million for their charities A BroaderWay and The Felix Organization.

"It was a great collaboration of performance and music, and even greater collaboration of purpose with our organizations uniting to serve our foster youth," McDaniels tells PEOPLE.

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels performing during Celebrate This Way
Credit: Michael Kushner

Summer 2025 was the start of The Felix Organization and A BroaderWay's first collaboration, Camp Felix A BroaderWay, yet both organizations have been creating programs for kids for years.

In 2006, McDaniels and Emmy-award winning casting director Sheila Jaffe came together to start The Felix Organization. Bonding over their own adoption origin stories, they set out to make sure all foster kids had a place to call home. What started as one summer camp in Putnam Valley 20 years ago has turned into an army of eight unique camps around the country, with the newest being Camp Felix A BroaderWay in New York City.

A BroaderWay also started small. Founded by Menzel in 2010 with the goal to amplify the power of women through the arts, it has grown from one sleep-away summer camp to workshops, performances, and social gatherings during the school year, as well as offerings for graduates like internships and service projects.

Idina Menzel with A BroaderWay campers
Credit: Michael Kushner

This past Monday, at Celebrate This Way, campers from Camp Felix A BroaderWay stepped on stage to give spoken, sung, and danced performances, each greeted with standing ovations and huge smiles from Menzel and McDaniels, as well as the rest of the crowd.

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"The highlight of the night was definitely seeing the girls from A Broader Way perform," says McDaniels. "That’s why we do this!"

Also on the agenda for the night was a live auction, with offerings like a reservation at New York City's famous Italian restaurant Rao's and an all-inclusive getaway to the Napa Valley. The items that got the most attention, however, were bidding on a chance to sing with McDaniels and Menzel.

Menzel took the stage first, starting with a slowed-down version of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked and finishing with a "For Good" duet with a lucky bidder.

Following the Broadway jam sesh, McDaniels was joined onstage by two more lucky bidders to sing Run-DMC's "It's Tricky" and "Walk This Way," transforming the Tribeca Rooftop into what felt like concert grounds.

Idina Menzel performing during Celebrate This Way
Credit: Michael Kushner

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"It was an incredible experience being on stage with Idina!," says McDaniels.

The night ended with plenty of synchronized head-banging by Menzel and McDaniels, and a promise from both them and their organizations to continue to provide enriching opportunities for kids.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”