Story of the Month

Every month we want to bring you a story of somebody who has been helped by the Fund so that you can see what your support accomplishes.

I had become increasingly deaf and required hearing aids in both ears.  Like many in the entertainment industry I had no savings and no way to pay for such a major purchase.  A friend told me about the Actors’ Fund, I had no idea such an organization existed. When I went to the Fund I was treated with consideration and kindness.  They listened to my story were able to help me purchase a new hearing aid. 
 
Losing your hearing means losing the ability to interact with the world.  I was becoming increasingly isolated as I was unable to hear what people were saying and could no longer take part in things that I used to enjoy.  Now I can go to auditions, church and community meetings at my apartment building.  Financial assistance from the Fund freed me and allowed me to live with dignity.  
 
There are many wonderful charities out there and you should give to the ones you feel passionate about. That said, those of us in the entertainment industry should remember that we have our own charity that exists to serve our community. If you can, please support the Fund. It can make a huge difference in somebody’s life. It did in mine.

Arla Jean Sillers,
Actor

Looking to Get Involved with the Actors' Fund?

Canadian Indie Film Supports the Actors' Fund of Canada

Moon Point, a new independent Canadian film is showing its support for Canada's entertainment industry by fundraising for the Actors' Fund of Canada.

The Danger Bees, a Toronto indie band who are featured on the Moon Point soundtrack will be busking outside of AMC theatres at  Yonge and Dundas between 12-1pm on February 3rd. Contributions will benefit the Actors' Fund of Canada.

Moon Point begins a one week Toronto  at the Yonge and Dundas AMC Theatre starting February 3rd. 

Find out more about the movie at
www.moonpointmovie.com

Find out more about the fundraising initiative on our website

Events Happening Across Canada in February


Talk is Free Theatre will be holding audience collections during their production of No Way to Treat a Lady running January 26th to February 4th. Find out more about the show and book tickets at www.tift.ca 

 The Master Playwright Festival will be holding a benefit performance of Shaw's masterpiece, Heartbreak House, on February 5th at 2:30pm. Tickets are PWYC and available on a first-come first-serve basis. Find out more  www.masterplaywrightfest.com

 Northern Light Theatre is donating proceeds from the preview performance of The Ecstatics on February 9th. Visit http://www.northernlighttheatre.com/  for more information and to purchase tickets.

Touring Companies Raise Over $137,000 for the Actors' Fund of Canada and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS

The US-based touring companies of three productions: The Addams Family, Mary Poppins and Memphis touched down in Toronto in December and raised a total of just over $137,000 to be split equally between the Actors’ Fund of Canada and New York-based charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA)

The touring companies reached out to Toronto audiences and audiences responded  with generosity, donating money that will help many people working in the entertainment industry get back on their feet after a serious setback.

Check out our website for more information on the fundraiser

2 Pianos 4 Hands Raises $6,000 for the Actors' Fund of Canada

2 Pianos 4 Hands, arguably the most successful play in the history of Canadian theatre has raised $6,000 for the Actors’ Fund of Canada. The show’s creators, Richard Greenblatt and Ted Dykstra held two nights of audience collections during the show’s latest Toronto run, raising $2,918.  Richard, Ted, Marquis Entertainment and Mirvish Productions then added to this with a contribution of  $3082.00.

Find out more about the benefit here 

Welcome to the second Actors' Fund newsletter.  We hope you are enjoying this new way of communicating with you.  We received a lot of excellent feedback about our first newsletter, but would love to hear more.  This newsletter is for you, our supporter, so we want any suggestions you have on how we could make it better.

The start of a new year is often a time for reflection.  In 2011 we were able to help hundreds of people put their lives back together after illness, injury or other personal hardship threw a wrench in the works. As we enter 2012 we are happy to see that many of those who we helped in the past year are already back working in the field they love.  Many people have told us that they would have been forced to leave their industry if the Actors' Fund had not been able to tide them over during a rough patch. We hope that you will join us in 2012 as we continue working to keep Canada's cultural and entertainment communities vibrant and strong.

Sincerely,  

David Hope
Executive Director

How were people helped in November?

In November we distributed $35,205 to people facing illness, injury and other personal hardships

  $17,272 in rent and mortgage payments
  $9,300 for groceries and other necessities
  $2,117 to cover bills and keep the heat on and the phone connected
  $2,997 in medical expenses
  $2,404 to cover transportation costs, allowing people to get to work
  $1,115 in  dues, to get people back to work

Six Shows Participate in the Film & Television Charity Challenge

The Actors' Fund Film and Charity Challenge ended 2011 with a bang with six shows taking part in the span of a few months.  Proving that the possibilities for taking part in the Film & Television Charity Challenge really are limited only by your imagination, each production came up with its own way of raising money.

From Left: Rich Green, Dave Bidini, Allan Hawco, Andy Pyne holding the Kilgallon Cup

Republic of Doyle Group Shot

Theatres Across Canada  Hold Benefits for the Actors' Fund of Canada
 

Since December 10th 7 theatres have held benefits for the Actors' Fund of Canada, raising  $7,159  That amount does not include totals still to come from the National Arts Centre, The vancouver Playhouse or Western Canada Theatre.

A big thank you to A Company of Fools, Centaur Theatre, Great Canadian Theatre Centre, National Arts Centre,  Red Sandcastle Theatre, The Vancouver Playhouse  & Western Canada Theatre. Money raised at these events will go a long way towards helping Canadian culture workers in desperate situations.
 
For more information on the individual benefits, please check out our website.

A Company of Fools and Great Canadian Theatre Centre

Centaur Theatre

Theatre Cares Makes Record-Breaking Donation to the Actors' Fund

Theatre Cares Vancouver, a committee that raises funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS issues has announced a 2011 year-end contribution to the Actors' Fund of Canada of $8,750, up from $8,000 in the previous year.

Theatre Cares Vancouver is a volunteer based organization that unites the generous spirit of Vancouver’s performing arts community with its supporters to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS relief and other worthy charities. The charity is entirely volunteer run, allowing 90% of funds raised to go directly to the charities they support.

Find out more about this fundraiser

 

Dear Mary

We know that as a supporter of the Actors' Fund you care about the lives of everybody working in this industry.  The Actors' Fund began with the idea that people working in this industry could pool their resources to help care for colleagues who had fallen on hard times.  Fifty years later the tradition of goodwill continues. Please consider making a donation to the Actors' Fund so that it remains able to support those who need it the most.