Noah Wyle, Amy Poehler and Regina King Join Project Angel Food’s Lead With Love Telethon on KTLA (EXCLUSIVE)

Noah Wyle, Amy Poehler, and Regina King are set to appear at this year’s Project Angel Food telethon, titled *Lead With Love: Going the Distance*. The event, which will air live on KTLA 5 on June 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. PT, brings together a star-studded lineup to support a vital cause. Additional names on the roster include Adam Brody, Brooke Shields, Janelle James, Jason Ritter, Valerie Bertinelli, Jamie Lee Curtis, Judith Light, Kym Whitley, Lori Loughlin, Morgan Fairchild, Caroline Rhea, Edward James Olmos, and visual artist Robert Vargas. A special highlight is the appearance of 94-year-old Barbara Eden, beloved for her iconic role in “I Dream of Jeannie.”

Project Angel Food, established in 1989 as a meal delivery service for people living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles, has since expanded its mission. Today, it provides more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals each year, alongside nutrition counseling and compassionate client support, to 7,100 Angelenos. The organization’s growth reflects the increasing need for such services, particularly as fuel costs have surged. Executive producer Brad Bessey noted that monthly fuel expenses are now approaching $15,000—a staggering 55% increase in just 30 days. “Every day, Project Angel Food goes the distance for people who depend on us, with 16 refrigerated vans traveling 17,700 miles across 81 routes throughout Los Angeles County,” Bessey said. “We are bringing together an incredible lineup of artists for a joyful night of television to help keep those vans on the road and meals reaching our neighbors in need.”

The telethon will be hosted by Eric McCormack, Steven Weber, KTLA’s Jessica Holmes, and Loni Love, with live performances from Clay Aiken, Tiffany, Em Beihold, Sam Harris, and Shanice Shantay, who starred in “The Wiz Live!” An all-star phone bank, featuring Amy Yasbeck, Bruce Vilanch, Will Sasso, Jodie Sweetin, KTLA’s Melvin Robert, and brothers Gregory and Lawrence Zarian, will handle donations and viewer interactions. Now in its seventh year, *Lead With Love* has earned three Los Angeles Area Emmy Award nominations, underscoring its production quality and community impact. Last year’s telethon raised nearly $722,000, demonstrating the public’s strong support for the cause.

Project Angel Food CEO and telethon executive producer Richard Ayoub emphasized the organization’s core mission: “Project Angel Food was founded on the belief that no one facing serious illness should also face hunger and isolation. The Emmy nomination is a wonderful recognition of the people who bring this special to life, but its greatest impact is measured in meals delivered and lives touched.” He added that every donation made during *Lead With Love: Going the Distance* helps extend dignity, nourishment, and compassion to neighbors in critical need. The event’s executive producers also include Michelle Robinson and Mark McBride, with Marcus Smith, Jacob Burch, and Chris Reilly serving as executive producers for KTLA 5.

The telethon will be available across multiple platforms, streaming on KTLA and Project Angel Food’s digital channels—including YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook—as well as on KTLA+ via Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TVs. City National Bank returns as the longtime presenting sponsor, joined by title sponsors Yaamava’ Resort & Casino and the Herb Ritts Foundation, with the Edward F. Limato Foundation serving as a principal sponsor. This diverse support network highlights the broad community backing for an organization that has become a lifeline for thousands of Los Angeles residents facing serious illness.