Fall 2012 - The Actors Fund
Fall 2012 - The Actors Fund
Fall 2012 - The Actors Fund
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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ACTORS FUND FALL <strong>2012</strong> ISSUE: VOLUME 15, NUMBER 2<br />
vieWs from Shonda Rhimes<br />
Award Winning Creator, Producer and Writer of TV shows Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and the hit show Scandal.<br />
Please consider giving money<br />
to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reason why is simple. <strong>The</strong> reason why is basic.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reason why is fundamental. You like movies.<br />
You like TV. You like theatre. You like concerts.<br />
You like dance. You like the arts. Maybe you’re like<br />
me—maybe you even love the arts, maybe you can’t<br />
imagine your life without the arts, can’t imagine<br />
how you’d have survived high school without the<br />
soundtrack of a certain Broadway show or the dialogue<br />
from a certain movie. Maybe at some point,<br />
exposure to the arts changed the course of your life in<br />
a profound way. Maybe you’re an artist now. Or maybe<br />
you just like to escape reality every once in a while<br />
and be entertained. Either way, you like the arts.<br />
Here’s where <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> comes in.<br />
Ready? Okay.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> provides assistance to the artists<br />
that create the movies and theatre and TV shows<br />
and dance and concerts that you enjoy. Simply put,<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> supports the artists who make<br />
the stuff you like to watch. And by “support”,<br />
I mean SUPPORT. No. Wait. I mean SUPPORT.<br />
With underlines and italics.<br />
If a dancer breaks her leg and can’t work,<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> pays her mortgage. If a grip gets<br />
cancer, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> covers the gap left by his<br />
health insurance. If a costume designer needs a<br />
rehab program, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> provides a place to<br />
go. If an out of work actor can’t afford shoes to wear<br />
to audition, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> buys him shoes. If a<br />
writer has lost his benefits and finds out he has HIV,<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> gives him free medical care. If a<br />
studio musician finds himself homeless, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong><br />
<strong>Fund</strong> gives him a place to live. If a wonderful unsung<br />
character actor dies and there is no one to bury<br />
her, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> pays for her funeral.<br />
I want to take a moment to say that, when I found<br />
out about <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> and what the organization<br />
does, I got a little bit choked up. <strong>The</strong>y give out<br />
shoes. <strong>The</strong>y provide housing. <strong>The</strong>y provide medical<br />
care. <strong>The</strong>y provide funding. <strong>The</strong>y pay for funerals.<br />
No wait. THEY PAY FOR FUNERALS.<br />
In providing these services, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> has<br />
decided that the importance of an artist’s contribution<br />
to show business is not determined by the level<br />
of his paycheck. It’s determined by his creativity.<br />
That the least famous among us deserve the same<br />
respect as the most famous. That every artist who<br />
commits to this<br />
business we all playfully<br />
call “show business”<br />
deserves the dignity and<br />
respect and support of<br />
like-minded people. So<br />
they give out shoes. And<br />
they provide a place to<br />
lay one’s head. And they<br />
pay for funerals.<br />
To me, that’s the<br />
definition of a community. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is a<br />
community of people who support artists.<br />
Which—simply, basically, fundamentally—is why<br />
you should consider giving money to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong><br />
<strong>Fund</strong>. Because if you support <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>, you<br />
support the arts. You support art. You support music<br />
and dance and writing and acting. You support<br />
creativity and imagination and the spinning of<br />
dreams into gold. And, most importantly, you<br />
support a community. You help move a community<br />
forward. You join the community. Join us.<br />
Please consider giving to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>.<br />
729 SEVENTH AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR<br />
NEW YORK, NY 10019<br />
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
Views from Shonda Rhimes.............................. 1<br />
Community & Collaboration in LA................... 2<br />
<strong>The</strong> LA Office and Western Council................... 2<br />
In Memoriam..................................................... 2<br />
Spolight on Los Angeles................................... 3<br />
Special Performances and Events.................... 4<br />
Our LA Clients Share <strong>The</strong>ir Stories............. 5 – 6<br />
Young Performers Grow,<br />
Give Back & Have Fun...................................... 6<br />
WGAW Donates Nearly $1 Million<br />
to Aid Entertainment Industry Workers............ 6<br />
Responding to Unique Economic<br />
Challenges in LA............................................... 6<br />
SPECIAL EDITION:<br />
Spotlight on Los Angeles!
2<br />
neWs<br />
Community & Collaboration in Los Angeles<br />
Los Angeles has been called the “entertainment capital of the world.”<br />
According to the 2011 OTIS Report on the Creative Economy, the LA<br />
entertainment business accounts for an estimated $71.1 billion in economic<br />
impact, and more than a quarter-million jobs in the area. That’s big money,<br />
but it also means big talent, as Southern California’s creative community is<br />
responsible for producing the movies, documentaries, TV shows, music and<br />
so much more that drive a considerable portion of that economy.<br />
But like everywhere, the current recession has had a negative impact on<br />
this community, and in the sprawling Los Angeles region, finding help when<br />
you need it can seem daunting. With a metropolitan area spread over 300<br />
square miles, 88 municipalities and a network of more than 500 miles of freeways,<br />
Los Angeles has been described as 100 communities in search of a city.<br />
Where do you turn when you need help?<br />
Thanks to your support, the creative community turns to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>.<br />
We serve as home-base to thousands of people in entertainment, whether it’s<br />
through our support groups, youth programs, health insurance counseling,<br />
social services, emergency financial aid, or employment and training services,<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is there to lend support, guidance and give a “leg up” to people in<br />
our industry.<br />
Hollywood has always been there for <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>—just as <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> has<br />
been there from Hollywood’s beginnings—to help our compatriots in need.<br />
From the early days of the industry, when people like Douglas Fairbanks<br />
performed in a 1916 “Roman Spectacle” benefit production of Julius Caesar<br />
in the Beachwood natural amphitheatre (today’s Hollywood Bowl), to this past<br />
March, when the cast of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy donated a one-night-only<br />
benefit at UCLA’s Royce Hall (see p. 1 for a special message from Grey’s<br />
executive producer Shonda Rhimes), the tradition of caring for everyone in<br />
entertainment continues to this day.<br />
To better serve the region, 40 years ago we opened our Los Angeles office,<br />
and our presence and programs have grown exponentially since then. Today,<br />
22 LA staff members ensure our myriad programs and services are available to<br />
the wide variety of people working in entertainment. From Texas to Washington,<br />
our LA office helps people in 14 states (including Alaska and Hawaii). We<br />
are there for writers, actors, musicians, gaffers, electricians, camera operators,<br />
production assistants, editors, and hundreds of others both “behind the scenes”<br />
and “below the line”—everyone who makes the magic happen.<br />
Together, we’re creating a unique and much-needed community of<br />
entertainment professionals in the area (see p. 3 for an overview of who and<br />
how we serve). <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> provides a vital link, and—most importantly—brings<br />
people together so they can help each other.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Los Angeles office—like our New York and Chicago offices—<br />
continues to respond to the essential and evolving needs that arise due to<br />
national and regional challenges. For example, during the AIDS crisis in the<br />
early 1980s, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> was there to help people in the industry cope with the<br />
Our Los Angeles Office!<br />
Our LA staff comprises professional social workers, career counselors,<br />
youth specialists and education counselors who specialize in helping our<br />
community deal with the unique challenges of a career in entertainment.<br />
For a list of our entire team, visit actorsfund.org/staff.<br />
Back row (l-r): Meg Thomas, Robin LaBorwit, Mallory Morehead, Amanda Steele,<br />
Amy Hammond, Tina Hookom, Ze’Ev Korn, Joanne Webb, Louie Anchondo,<br />
Angelique Prahalis, Frank Salamone. Seated (l–r): Dan Kitowski, Karen Hanen,<br />
Gregory Polcyn, Annie Keating-Scherer, Joey Shanley, John Mattson. Not pictured:<br />
Jan-Kees Van Der Gaag, TaNisha Harris, Keith McNutt, Caitlin Sorenson.<br />
Grey’s Anatomy raised $100,000 for <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> at their March 18 one-night-only event!<br />
(l-r): Western Region Director Keith McNutt, Sarah Drew, Trustee Jomarie Ward,<br />
Kevin McKidd, Western Council Chair & Vice Chair John Holly & Ilene Graff,<br />
Shonda Rhimes, President Joe Benincasa, Kim Raver and James Pickens, Jr.<br />
disease, and established a community committed to extending support<br />
with dignity and respect for all. In 1998, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> opened the Palm View<br />
residence, which today provides 40 units for low income people living with<br />
HIV/AIDS.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> also quickly responded to the industry strike and labor disputes<br />
in 2007–08, serving five times the usual number of people helped by the office<br />
and distributing more than $1.5 million in emergency grants. More recently,<br />
our clients have sought support due to a new wave of regional job losses<br />
(see Responding to Unique Economic Challenges in LA on p. 6).<br />
All told, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> has provided more than $10.7 million<br />
in emergency financial aid to nearly 13,000 entertainment<br />
professionals across Southern California in the last decade.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re are huge challenges to remaining healthy and creative in this<br />
industry,” says <strong>Fund</strong> Western Council Chair John Holly. “That’s why it’s<br />
essential that we build awareness that we’re here for everyone. This<br />
community relies on <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> to overcome issues like lack of work, aging in<br />
the industry, and adjusting to quickly evolving trends. We’ve almost doubled<br />
the number of people we serve in the last five years alone. That speaks to a<br />
real need out there, and it’s a challenge we’re prepared to meet.”<br />
In this issue of Marquee, we turn the spotlight on our Los Angeles office.<br />
In addition to our front page piece by Shonda Rhimes, you’ll also hear from<br />
the clients we serve (pgs. 5 and 6), get a visual snapshot who and how we help<br />
(p. 3) and more. Whether it’s through collaboration with other organizations or<br />
through our direct services, our goal is always the same—ensuring people in<br />
entertainment stay safe, healthy, employed and creative. Here’s to Hollywood!<br />
<strong>The</strong> Western Council<br />
Our Western Council works tirelessly to raise awareness about and<br />
support for our programs and services for the LA community. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
joined Jason Alexander, Scott Bakula and Annie Potts for our June<br />
10 Tony Party at the Skirball Center, where we presented Jason<br />
with the Julie Harris Award.<br />
<strong>Fund</strong> Western Region Director Keith McNutt, William Thomas, Ilyanne Morden<br />
Kichaven, Michael Medico, Jomarie Ward, Richard Herd, Vice Chair David Rambo,<br />
Jason Alexander, Vice Chair Ilene Graff, Scott Bakula, James Karen, John Acosta,<br />
Danny Goldman, B. Harlan Boll, <strong>Fund</strong> Events Manager Meg Thomas. Seated (l–r):<br />
Charlotte Rae, Annie Potts. Not pictured: Barbara Allyne Bennet, Joni Berry,<br />
<strong>The</strong>odore Bikel, John Bowab, Pam Dixon, Budd Friedman, Katherine Fugate, Dan<br />
Guerrero, Bridget Hanley, Daniel Henning, John Holly, Scott Roth, Joseph Ruskin,<br />
Bryan Unger, Ken Werther, Mary Lou Westerfi eld, Martin Wiviott, David Young.<br />
marQuee FALL <strong>2012</strong><br />
volume 15, number 2<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is a national<br />
human services organization<br />
that helps all professionals<br />
in performing arts and<br />
entertainment. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is a<br />
safety net, providing programs<br />
and services for those who are<br />
in need, crisis or transition.<br />
National Headquarters<br />
729 Seventh Avenue<br />
10th Floor<br />
New York, NY 10019<br />
212.221.7300<br />
Fax: 212.764.0238<br />
Central Region<br />
8 South Michigan Avenue<br />
Suite 601<br />
Chicago, IL 60603<br />
312.372.0989<br />
Fax: 312.372.0272<br />
Western Region<br />
5757 Wilshire Boulevard<br />
Suite 400<br />
Los Angeles, CA 90036<br />
323.933.9244<br />
Fax: 323.933.7615<br />
<strong>The</strong> Al Hirschfeld Free<br />
Health Clinic<br />
475 West 57th Street<br />
New York, NY 10019<br />
212.489.1939<br />
<strong>The</strong> Dorothy Ross<br />
Friedman Residence<br />
(formerly <strong>The</strong> Aurora)<br />
New York, NY<br />
212.489.2020<br />
<strong>The</strong> Palm View<br />
West Hollywood, CA<br />
323.933.9244<br />
<strong>The</strong> Lillian Booth<br />
<strong>Actors</strong> Home<br />
Englewood, NJ<br />
201.871.8882<br />
<strong>The</strong> Schermerhorn<br />
Brooklyn, NY<br />
718.640.1845<br />
Marquee<br />
212.221.7300 ext. 176<br />
Fax: 212.536.7658<br />
dengelman@actorsfund.org<br />
<strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> Programs:<br />
SOCIAL SERVICES<br />
Entertainment Assistance<br />
Program<br />
Mental Health<br />
Chemical Dependency<br />
HIV/AIDS Initiative<br />
Senior and Disabled Care<br />
Phyllis Newman Women’s<br />
Health Initiative<br />
Financial Wellness<br />
<strong>The</strong> Dancers’ Resource<br />
American Comedy <strong>Fund</strong><br />
HOWL Emergency<br />
Life Project<br />
Conrad Cantzen Shoe <strong>Fund</strong><br />
Funerals and Burials<br />
Union/Partner Programs<br />
HEALTH SERVICES<br />
Artists Health Insurance<br />
Resource Center<br />
Al Hirschfeld Free<br />
Health Clinic<br />
EMPLOYMENT<br />
AND TRAINING<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> Work<br />
Program (AWP)<br />
SUPPORTIVE AND<br />
AFFORDABLE HOUSING<br />
<strong>The</strong> Lillian Booth<br />
<strong>Actors</strong> Home<br />
<strong>The</strong> Dorothy Ross<br />
Friedman Residence<br />
(formerly <strong>The</strong> Aurora)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Schermerhorn<br />
<strong>The</strong> Palm View<br />
Celeste Holm<br />
1917–<strong>2012</strong><br />
In Memoriam<br />
Dale Olson<br />
1934–<strong>2012</strong><br />
A.J. Pocock<br />
1922–<strong>2012</strong><br />
We mourn the passing of our devoted Trustees Celeste Holm,<br />
Dale Olson and A.J. Pocock. Each played leading roles for<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>, and we will miss them. Celeste and Dale served as chairs<br />
of the committee overseeing <strong>The</strong> Lillian Booth <strong>Actors</strong> Home, and both<br />
helped create the best possible quality of life for our residents.<br />
When the HIV/AIDS crisis devastated the entertainment community,<br />
Dale was among the first to speak out for those in need. In 1990, A.J. led<br />
the merger of <strong>The</strong> Percy Williams Home into <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>, creating a<br />
$3.2 million endowment. He also succeeded Colleen Dewhurst as<br />
Chair of the Human Services Committee, and led our Budget and<br />
Finance Committee. We applaud their commitment to making the world<br />
a better place—especially their dedication to bringing comfort and relief<br />
to thousands of our colleagues in the performing arts community.<br />
For more information on <strong>Actors</strong><br />
<strong>Fund</strong> programs, please call<br />
800.221.7303 or visit our<br />
website at www.actorsfund.org.<br />
Photo credits:<br />
Scott Appel, Robert Ascroft,<br />
Lyn Hughes, Dexter Kim/<br />
Writers Guild of America,<br />
West, Eric Richardson,<br />
Magen Senen, Jordan Strauss<br />
Design: Holly Wheeler<br />
Copy: David Engelman,<br />
Karissa Krenz, Jeff Potter,<br />
Shonda Rhimes
3Programs & Services<br />
Spotlight<br />
Los Angeles<br />
2011<br />
HELPING PEOPLE<br />
4,533 12,800 33<br />
+<br />
85<br />
=<br />
118<br />
IN LA<br />
NATIONALLY<br />
STAYING HEALTHY + GETTING INSURED<br />
IN LA<br />
NATIONWIDE<br />
WORKSHOPS<br />
25 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES<br />
DIGNITY, RESPECT AND<br />
CONFIDENTIALITY<br />
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES<br />
CAREER COUNSELING<br />
CLASSES AND CAREER PANELS<br />
PROVIDING A<br />
SAFETY NET<br />
$10.7<br />
million in emergency financial aid to nearly<br />
13,000 entertainment professionals across<br />
Southern California in the last decade.<br />
$2.5 million nationally in 2011.<br />
COMING HOME<br />
“Our partnership with <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> has led to<br />
prestigious grants from the NEA and ArtPlace<br />
and fresh exploration of affordable housing<br />
opportunities in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s a<br />
win for our creative community and a win for our<br />
city.” —Olga Garay, Executive Director of the City<br />
of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.<br />
Learn more at actorsfund.org/AFHDC<br />
$100,000<br />
NEA GRANT<br />
$470,000<br />
ARTPLACE GRANT<br />
WELCOMING<br />
EVERYONE<br />
70<br />
HELP<br />
+<br />
UNION<br />
AFFILIATIONS<br />
“Actor” is part of our name, but did you catch<br />
our tag line? Your support helps everyone in the<br />
LA performing arts and entertainment community!<br />
BUILDING<br />
COMMUNITIES<br />
...to West Hollywood<br />
DURING<br />
TAX SEASON<br />
FREE RETURNS<br />
...to Downtown LA<br />
GROWING,<br />
GIVING BACK<br />
AND HAVING FUN<br />
105 258<br />
YOUNG PERFORMERS<br />
VALLEY DAYS<br />
JOB CLUBS AND JOB SEARCH<br />
ENCORE SENIOR GROUP<br />
Helping people & Welcoming everyone<br />
With Dignity, Respect & Confidentiality<br />
Our LA clients—and anyone in our community—can reach<br />
out for assistance via our Programs & Services when faced<br />
with challenges (including mental health issues, chemical<br />
dependency, aging or disability), or if they want to develop<br />
strategies for financial wellness. We also target groups, such as<br />
comedians, women, dancers and people living with HIV/AIDS,<br />
to ensure no one is without the care they need.<br />
Staying healthy & Getting insured<br />
Our Artists Health Insurance Resource Center educates the<br />
community on health insurance and health care resources,<br />
and explains how health care reform offers new and affordable<br />
options for coverage. In collaboration with MusiCares and<br />
Venice Family Clinic, <strong>The</strong> Performing Artists Clinic provides<br />
free medical care to those in need in the Los Angeles area.<br />
Providing a safety net<br />
In unforeseen times of need, like the 2007–08 Writers’ Strike,<br />
Emergency Financial Assistance keeps our clients safe and<br />
healthy by preventing foreclosures or evictions, ensuring<br />
ongoing transportation, helping secure medical insurance or<br />
paying to keep the lights on—all without the added burden<br />
of having to pay back new loans and incur more debt.<br />
Help During Tax Season<br />
51 low and moderate income union individuals and families<br />
took advantage of the <strong>2012</strong> pilot season of the Entertainment<br />
Industry Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) for<br />
free tax preparation, sponsored in collaboration with <strong>Actors</strong>’<br />
Equity, SAG Foundation, SAG-AFTRA and IATSE. We filed<br />
105 federal and state returns combined!<br />
Building communities<br />
Groups offer unique opportunities for the LA community<br />
to gather in a safe environment to share challenges, expand<br />
networks and receive encouragement and support around<br />
issues including—<br />
• Financial Wellness<br />
• Women’s health, HIV+ groups & peer support<br />
• Aging in the industry<br />
• Fighting depression & anxiety<br />
As gas prices increase, it’s often too expensive to drive long<br />
distances for help. By partnering with Local 80 IATSE, Motion<br />
Picture Studio Grips/Crafts Service in Burbank for Valley Days,<br />
we bring our services closer to hundreds of people in a different<br />
part of town, with guest speakers at forums like “Getting<br />
Unstuck, Using Your Creativity to Unlock Open Doors” or<br />
“Manage Your Stress = Manage Your Life.” Special thanks to IA<br />
friends Russell Nordstedt and Thom Davis for this tremendous<br />
partnership.<br />
Our Job Clubs give members a supportive place to network,<br />
learn job search technologies, conduct informational interviews<br />
and share contacts and resources.<br />
Coming home<br />
Many in the arts can’t afford safe housing near their<br />
workplace. We’re committed to expanding Affordable<br />
Housing opportunities throughout our community.<br />
Our Palm View residence provides a home to 40 low-income<br />
people with HIV/AIDS in West Hollywood.<br />
With our partners (ArtPlace in Minneapolis, the City of<br />
Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the California<br />
Institute of the Arts and Bringing Back Broadway), the National<br />
Endowment for the Arts funded our exploration of the<br />
Broadway Arts Center, which would offer affordable artists’<br />
housing, performance and exhibition space, an educational<br />
facility and support for Downtown LA’s historic theatres.<br />
Expanding opportunities<br />
Many in the creative community are employed on a project basis,<br />
so are perpetually looking for work, running through savings or<br />
losing benefits. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> Work Program (AWP) helps<br />
people build a more stable financial life and increase long-term<br />
career satisfaction by working with them to find better sideline,<br />
parallel and new careers through counseling, job training and job<br />
development.<br />
One-on-one Career Counseling provides invaluable assistance<br />
for people in identifying and finding fulfilling secondary work to<br />
complement their industry work, and can also help in transitions.<br />
Regular orientations welcome new members to the AWP<br />
community, while career panels like our “Educational Opportunities<br />
Fest and Fair” in partnership with SAG-AFTRA, the SAG<br />
Foundation, and Career Transition for Dancers, give people a<br />
forum to get inspired and explore alternative career options.
4<br />
sPecial Performances anD events<br />
{ }<br />
special<br />
<strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong><br />
Performances<br />
and events<br />
Casts, musicians, stage managers and countless others<br />
regularly donate their time & talent for our legendary<br />
Special Performances & Events! Some recent highlights…<br />
PHOTOS | actorsfund.org/photos<br />
VIDEOS | youtube.com/actorsfundorg<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Gala<br />
Jerry Stiller, Anne<br />
Meara, Harry Belafonte<br />
and Trustee David<br />
Steiner were honored<br />
at our Annual Gala on<br />
May 21 in New York.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Book of Mormon<br />
Los Angeles<br />
<strong>The</strong> company raised more than<br />
$200,000 at their Special Performance<br />
at Los Angeles’ Pantages <strong>The</strong>atre in<br />
October. Trustee Annette Bening, with<br />
stars Jared Gertner and Gavin Creel,<br />
thanked the company before the show.<br />
Special Events<br />
Grey’s Anatomy—<strong>The</strong> Songs Beneath the Show<br />
<strong>The</strong> cast and creator of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy went from Seattle Grace to the stage<br />
at UCLA’s Royce Hall on March 18, performing a live benefi t concert that raised<br />
more than $100,000 for <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>’s programs and services!<br />
Featuring cast members Sara Ramirez, Chandra Wilson, Kevin McKidd, Justin<br />
Chambers, Jessica Capshaw, James Pickens Jr., Sarah Drew, Kim Raver, Sandra Oh<br />
and Eric Dane, the two-hour event featured 11 songs, including tracks from the<br />
March 2011 musical episode “Song Beneath the Song.”<br />
“<strong>The</strong> fans make it possible for us to be the lucky ones,” said the<br />
executive producer Shonda Rhimes to a sold-out crowd, encouraging<br />
concertgoers to support <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>. “I believe in the joy I get from<br />
watching TV, film and theater, and a $25 donation to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong><br />
would be saying you believe in the arts, too.” Thanks to everyone at<br />
Grey’s for their incredible support!<br />
www.actorsfund.org<br />
/theactorsfund<br />
@theactorsfund<br />
Board of Trustees<br />
Brian Stokes Mitchell<br />
Chairman of the Board<br />
Marc Grodman, M.D.<br />
Secretary<br />
Abby Schroeder<br />
Assistant Secretary<br />
John A. Duncan, Jr.<br />
Treasurer<br />
Steve Kalafer<br />
Assistant Treasurer<br />
Philip S. Birsh<br />
Vice Chair<br />
Bebe Neuwirth<br />
Vice Chair<br />
Philip J. Smith<br />
Vice Chair<br />
Joseph P. Benincasa<br />
President and CEO<br />
Rita Wilson at Geffen Playhouse<br />
Rita performed an electrifying sold out benefi t<br />
concert of selections from her AM/FM album<br />
for Geffen’s Community Educational Program<br />
and <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>. Special thanks to SAG-AFTRA<br />
Co-President and Trustee Ken Howard who<br />
kicked off the show with Geffen Artistic Director<br />
Randall Arney to speak about our fundraising<br />
partnership.<br />
Charlotte gave through a Charitable Gift Annuity<br />
“I’ve enjoyed great success in fi lm, television and on Broadway. But not<br />
everyone in show biz is so blessed. I feel good knowing my support assures<br />
there’s a place in our community where people can go for help when they<br />
need it, and be treated with dignity and respect. It’s like a family.”<br />
Charlotte gives back to the arts community by including <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> in her estate plans as<br />
part of the Edwin Forrest Society. Her career in show business includes Tony-nominated<br />
turns in Pickwick (1966) and Morning, Noon and Night (1969), and her Emmy-nominated<br />
portrayal of Edna Garrett in TV’s <strong>The</strong> Facts of Life.<br />
To learn more, call Wally Munro, Director of Planned Giving, at<br />
212.221.7300 ext. 128, email wmunro@actorsfund.org or visit actorsfund.org.<br />
Charlotte Rae with Western Region Director Keith McNutt<br />
Producer’s Picks<br />
Bravo to the producers of these shows who<br />
recently donated “Producer’s Picks,” so 100% of<br />
your ticket purchase price supports our programs!<br />
Billy Elliot Los Angeles<br />
Bring It On<br />
End of the Rainbow<br />
Evita<br />
<strong>The</strong> Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess<br />
Ghost<br />
Nice Work if You Can Get It<br />
Other Desert Cities<br />
Peter and the Starcatcher<br />
Spider Man Turn Off the Dark<br />
A Streetcar Named Desire<br />
Don’t miss<br />
Brian Stokes Mitchell<br />
on October 31<br />
at Alice Tully Hall.<br />
A Gala Evening to benefi t<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> and Lincoln Center!<br />
Special Performances<br />
Kudos to these casts who donated<br />
shows to raise much-needed funds<br />
for our community!<br />
Gore Vidal’s <strong>The</strong> Best Man<br />
<strong>The</strong> Book of Mormon—Los Angeles & NYC<br />
Jersey Boys<br />
<strong>The</strong> Lion King, Greenville, SC<br />
Once<br />
One Man, Two Guvnors<br />
Rock of Ages<br />
mark your<br />
calendar<br />
Visit actorsfund.org and join<br />
us for these upcoming events!<br />
october 31<br />
Brian Stokes Mitchell Simply Broadway<br />
at Lincoln Center<br />
New York<br />
november 18<br />
<strong>The</strong> Lion King 15th Anniversary<br />
New York<br />
In New York, call 212.221.7300 ext. 133<br />
In Los Angeles, call 323.933.9244 ext. 458<br />
Alec Baldwin<br />
Annette Bening<br />
Jed W. Bernstein<br />
Jeffrey Bolton<br />
John Breglio<br />
Ebs Burnough<br />
James J. Claffey, Jr.<br />
Nancy Coyne<br />
Merle Debuskey<br />
Rick Elice<br />
Janice Reals Ellig<br />
Joyce Gordon<br />
Marc Hostetter<br />
Ken Howard<br />
David Henry Hwang<br />
Anita Jaffe<br />
Kate Edelman Johnson<br />
Michael Kerker<br />
Stewart F. Lane<br />
Paul Libin<br />
Matthew Loeb<br />
Kristen Madsen<br />
Kevin McCollum<br />
Lin-Manuel Miranda<br />
James L. Nederlander<br />
Martha Nelson<br />
Phyllis Newman<br />
Lee H. Perlman<br />
Harold Prince<br />
Roberta Reardon<br />
Charlotte St. Martin<br />
Thomas Schumacher<br />
David Steiner<br />
Edward D. Turen<br />
Tom Viola<br />
Honey Waldman<br />
Jomarie Ward<br />
Joseph H. Wender<br />
B.D. Wong<br />
Nick Wyman<br />
George Zuber<br />
Acknowledgements<br />
Official Airline<br />
Become a Part of tHe legacy<br />
Offi cial NYC Hotel
5<br />
Programs & Services<br />
Our LA Clients Share <strong>The</strong>ir Stories<br />
Bill<br />
Makeup Artist<br />
“[Intake Social Worker] Annie Keating, [Career Counselor]<br />
JoAnne Webb and others at <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> in LA have been<br />
terrific, and treat everyone with a warm respect as valuable<br />
people—despite the fact they are in a difficult situation.”<br />
A veteran of the industry, Bill has been a member of IATSE Local 706 Makeup Artists<br />
and Hairdressers for over 25 years, as well as a SAG actor for 9 years and puppeteer for<br />
more than 30.<br />
Bill’s finances have taken a huge hit in the last few years because of the economic<br />
downturn (see “Responding to Unique Economic Challenges in LA”), so he hasn’t had<br />
steady work at which he’s received union rates since 2007. Because crew unions have<br />
taken financial hits from all sides, many of his peers who work below the line are<br />
becoming increasingly desperate, stressed, frustrated and angry because of ongoing<br />
wage decreases—and the feeling that the situation is not going to improve.<br />
“In the California film business, at least for crewmembers, we are back in the Old<br />
West, and it is every man for himself,” says Bill. “People are desperate and will take any<br />
work they can get.”<br />
Bill found out about <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> through his unions, and has been fortunate enough<br />
to receive financial assistance twice since 2007. He’s also attended the Baby Boomer<br />
Breakfasts organized by Joanne Webb.<br />
“I think it helped alleviate that feeling of desperation that can grab a person,<br />
especially a creative person, and that can cause them to shut off entirely. It was<br />
like a support group.”<br />
Bill believes it’s going to take a long time for the situation in LA to turn around,<br />
but in the meantime, he’s grateful <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is there to help everyone.<br />
“I think there can be no question about <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>’s vital role in what are sure<br />
to be some very rough times yet to come,” says Bill. “During that time, a lot of people<br />
will be hurting financially, and will likely need to transition to other professions, or temporarily<br />
get assistance while doing so. I know the program has been life-saving to me,<br />
and when I get to the position that I can support <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>, I will gladly do so.”<br />
Stephanie<br />
Actor / Singer<br />
“<strong>The</strong> doctor at Venice Family<br />
Clinic...made it possible to be seen<br />
by someone, and ensured I got the<br />
medical attention I needed. I’m<br />
grateful to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>.”<br />
An actor/singer/professional clown, Stephanie was born into a family of Los Angeles<br />
entertainers. Though she works regularly in her various fields, in 2009, unable<br />
to meet the minimum requirements for her union health insurance, Stephanie<br />
turned to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> when she realized she needed to be seen by a doctor. She had<br />
received emails about <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>’s partnership with the Performing Artists Clinic<br />
at the Venice Family Clinic, which offers free medical services to low-income<br />
musicians, dancers, actors and other performing artists, and decided to go.<br />
After Clinic Director Dr. Myles Spar did some preliminary tests, he sent her to<br />
a volunteer doctor for additional testing and it was discovered that she had a growth<br />
that needed to be removed. He referred her to a teaching hospital where the<br />
surgery was performed at no cost.<br />
“Once you lose your insurance…you have to look around,” says Stephanie.<br />
“This was a legitimate doctor who knew a legitimate doctor, and I felt OK about<br />
it…I would never have gotten the surgery, I wouldn’t have known where to go—the<br />
whole thing started with <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>. I don’t know if I’d even be around<br />
anymore if I hadn’t.”<br />
She’s also happy that, if she needs to, she can go back to the Venice Family<br />
Clinic, as it’s available via the new Healthy Way LA program, which helps people<br />
get seen by doctors—and also covers emergency care.<br />
“I didn’t know what was going to happen to me,” she recalls, “but it ended up<br />
being OK. I’m really grateful to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>, I have to tell you. <strong>The</strong>y took<br />
care of all of it.”<br />
Dori<br />
Actor / Producer / Political Activist<br />
Susan<br />
Costume Designer<br />
“[If you wonder why <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong><br />
<strong>Fund</strong> is so important,] I would say<br />
that when I look at the way the<br />
entertainment industry feeds the<br />
psyche of our society—because<br />
our society loves entertainment—<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is servicing the people that create that.”<br />
Working in LA since 1981, Susan started in theatre as a costume artist, but quickly<br />
transitioned to the 80s world of music videos and commercials, which catapulted<br />
her into designing the costumes for the 1992 film <strong>The</strong> Bodyguard. She ended up<br />
primarily doing costume design and styling for commercials, and has been a member<br />
of the Costume Designers Guild IATSE Local 892 for about 20 years. But when the<br />
economy took a nosedive in 2008, she went from doing 3 or 4 commercials a month<br />
to 3 or 4 a year.<br />
In 2009 she reached out to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>. “<strong>The</strong>y were just an incredible<br />
resource for just being around people who are having the same experiences.”<br />
She participated in the Baby Boomers group, and worked closely with Career<br />
Counselor Joanne Webb exploring other options for employment. That time with<br />
AWP helped her feel free enough to reclassify herself and try some other things,<br />
including working as a Costume Supervisor. She eventually landed a gig on a film that<br />
enabled her to join the Motion Picture Costumers Union IATSE Local 705, which<br />
allowed her to expand her ability to work. Today she’s a costumer on a TV series.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> way I’ve adjusted is to reclassify and reinvent,” says Susan, “and <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong><br />
<strong>Fund</strong> is the place where someone like myself can come in and explore those possibilities.<br />
I think that’s really important for anybody to kind of look at what they’re doing in<br />
their lives and reevaluate and so forth.”<br />
As she’s witnessed the changes in the industry making it more difficult for her and<br />
her peers to find work, Susan has realized just how important organizations like <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> are.<br />
“I’ve sat in groups with directors and producers and people from every single<br />
aspect of the industry, above the line and below the line, and we’re all hurting, we’re<br />
all affected by this,” says Susan. “I feel like those people contributing to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong><br />
<strong>Fund</strong> are helping to support an industry that’s really vital to the mental health of our<br />
society.”<br />
“<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is there for anyone<br />
in the entertainment industry for<br />
emergency help. When it comes to<br />
special programs, such as the HIV/<br />
AIDS Initiative, donors should know<br />
their support really helps people get<br />
back into life.”<br />
In 2005, after a brush with death as a result of his illness, Dori was in dire need of<br />
assistance, and through word of mouth he learned about <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>. Initially, it was<br />
given through emergency financial aid and ongoing counseling, but later, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong><br />
really started to come through for Dori—especially when it came time to apply for<br />
Social Security Disability.<br />
Due to residual effects caused by the virus, Dori had difficulty writing so his<br />
counselor at <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> spent three days filling out the 100-page application as Dori<br />
dictated his answers. And he credits the government’s rapid approval—less than three<br />
months—to the help he received from that counselor.<br />
“Even some friends...who are in the industry and know about [<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>] aren’t<br />
aware that it’s open to more than just actors,” says Dori. “<strong>The</strong>y also don’t know how<br />
specific <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> gets when you have a catastrophic illness, and the work that it does.<br />
So they’re all pretty amazed. And they actually have donated to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> because of<br />
the help I’ve received—and continue to receive.”<br />
As time went on and feeling somewhat stronger, Dori was ready to get back into<br />
life. He decided he wanted to use his experience to help raise awareness, especially<br />
as his case as a straight male infected by a woman is not perceived as a usual one.<br />
With this in mind, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> encouraged him to take advantage of the Willard<br />
Swire Scholarship, which provides financial support to qualified <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> clients<br />
making a transition to a new career. This opportunity “was a blessing,” and enabled<br />
him to take a certificate program in International Studies with an emphasis on<br />
Middle Eastern Politics at UCLA.<br />
As a result, Dori found a position and worked for two years as Director of<br />
Development/Media for the Safe Haven Project, a Global non-profit dedicated to<br />
HIV-positive youth. He created a promotional film for the organization, and worked<br />
at its site in Ghana.<br />
“This is where <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> was really instrumental in helping me get<br />
back into living,” he explains. “I decided I really needed to do something with my<br />
experience, and dovetail that with my 30 years in the entertainment industry.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> helped me go back to school, and acquire the knowledge I needed.<br />
I wanted to work in Africa, and I knew it was important to understand the Muslim<br />
culture, because 70% of Africa is Muslim. And this really helped me get back into life<br />
and living again…it’s a simple as that.”<br />
His counselor at the time, Linda Zimmerman (who Dori credits with helping him<br />
“navigate through the murky waters”), presented the idea of moving into the Palm<br />
View. He became a resident in March. Now happily settled in, he’s currently using his<br />
skills in a variety of other projects, including a documentary based on children with<br />
HIV, and becoming a motivational speaker.
6<br />
Andre<br />
Singer / Songwriter<br />
“One thing about the entertainment<br />
business: <strong>The</strong>re’s the work but there’s<br />
the downtime too. When things are<br />
not on and you’re looking for that job,<br />
the unemployment line is very real.”<br />
R&B singer/songwriter Andre “Dre Boogie” Wilson was always keenly aware of the<br />
pitfalls of the music business. His father and uncles were members of the renowned<br />
funk unit <strong>The</strong> Gap Band, yet Andre witnessed his dad endure financial struggles in<br />
spite of international fame.<br />
Andre’s own talents landed him work with top artists such as Snoop Dogg and<br />
Dr. Dre. Several major labels signed Andre aboard, but projects were shelved at the<br />
last minute, leaving him adrift. He struggled with his own production company and<br />
supplemented his income with manual labor.<br />
“All of a sudden, I was in a position where I wasn’t seeing a return on anything,”<br />
he recalls. “And I was chasing down royalties that I should have received while<br />
residuals got smaller.”<br />
Personal domestic strains added to the fiercely snowballing debt. “I was<br />
double-behind,” he says. A friend at SAG-AFTRA guided Andre to MusiCares,<br />
whose foundation provided financial assistance and subsequently referred him<br />
to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>, where Social Work Supervisor Robin LaBorwit arranged<br />
for social work services and secured a grant to cover back utilities and rent.<br />
Andre is now able to continue his musical endeavors. “As artists, we’re here to<br />
give,” he says. “An art form gives and teaches. And it’s great to know that MusiCares<br />
and <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> are there for you. It keeps the whole industry healthy.”<br />
WgaW Donates<br />
nearly $1 million to<br />
aid entertainment<br />
industry Workers<br />
Writers Guild of America, West’s (WGAW)<br />
recent donation of more than $977,000<br />
will support our emergency financial<br />
assistance program. <strong>The</strong> funds were held<br />
by the WGAW’s Foreign Levies Program,<br />
which has successfully distributed over<br />
$121 million to writers and their heirs.<br />
WGAW Executive Director David Young and<br />
<strong>Fund</strong> Western Region Director Keith McNutt.<br />
“We became aware of how important <strong>The</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is during the 2007–08 strike,”<br />
said WGAW President Chris Keyser. “Without hesitation, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> stepped in and provided<br />
critical services to those in the industry who desperately needed help. We are thrilled that<br />
after years of litigation the court has cleared the way for us to make this contribution to<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong>’s good work.”<br />
Last year, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> distributed $2.5 million in emergency financial assistance to nearly<br />
1,600 people, and almost $1 million helped colleagues in Southern California. Read our<br />
press release at actorsfund.org/foreignlevies.<br />
Responding to Unique Economic Challenges in LA<br />
People in entertainment regularly face the fallout from myriad economic challenges, and<br />
LA is no different. <strong>The</strong> combination of the recession, the housing bubble, and jobs lost to<br />
rival entertainment hubs due to tax breaks in other US locales have made it increasingly<br />
tough for LA entertainment professionals to survive and thrive.<br />
In fact, the Miliken Institute estimates that California’s film industry lost around<br />
36,000 jobs between 1990 and 2008 due to factors like cheaper shooting locations and<br />
the relocation of post-production facilities abroad. And the Los Angeles Times reports that<br />
just two of this fall’s 23 new mid-season one-hour dramas are slated to be shot in LA.<br />
Faced with this quickly changing economic reality, where can our community turn?<br />
“<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> is uniquely positioned to help people facing the cumulative, devastating effects<br />
of all the pressures on the Southern California economy,” says Western Region Director<br />
Keith McNutt.<br />
“Our staff has done a yeoman’s job of<br />
doubling the number of people they are<br />
serving with emergency fi nancial aid,<br />
counseling, fi nancial training and<br />
connections to sideline work,” he adds.<br />
“We’re also partnering with other agencies<br />
and building support for these dramatic<br />
increases in need.”<br />
See p. 3 for more on how our services<br />
<strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Fund</strong> Work Program orientation on<br />
Mondays introduces clients to services like group<br />
and individual career counseling, job training<br />
and education, fi nancial assistance and more.<br />
in LA and nationally help meet the needs of<br />
our community with a unique understanding<br />
of the challenges of a life in the arts.<br />
YOUNG PERFORMERS<br />
Grow, Give Back & Have Fun<br />
Alumni regularly gather to stay connected and continue to mentor kids currently<br />
in the Looking Ahead program. (l-r): Michael Paredes, Amanda Petersen, Sharon<br />
Don, Hannah Pitts, and Zachary Winard.<br />
<strong>The</strong> life of a young actor can be a challenging one, posing issues that<br />
compound the difficulties facing kids as they transition into adulthood.<br />
To help support the youngest members of our entertainment family, we<br />
partnered with Screen <strong>Actors</strong> Guild and AFTRA (now SAG-AFTRA) in<br />
2003 to launch Looking Ahead, for professional young performers ages<br />
9–18 in Southern California. <strong>The</strong> program helps children and their families<br />
to balance work, school and life, make new friends and take breaks from<br />
“the biz” to enjoy being a kid.<br />
“This program nurtures two of the most important aspects of every<br />
child’s life—social interaction and planning for the future,” says Advisory<br />
Committee Chair Fred Savage. At 13, Fred was nominated for an Emmy<br />
Award ® for his work on <strong>The</strong> Wonder Years. After receiving his English<br />
degree from Stanford University in 1999, he’s gone on to develop<br />
a successful second career as a director and producer.<br />
“Young performers are often removed from the social life that they<br />
knew before they started working so finding new friends, particularly those<br />
with similar interests and an equally unusual career, is critical to sustaining<br />
the fun and joy of being young,” he added.<br />
“Additionally, the career of a young performer<br />
is, by definition, a short one, and Looking Ahead<br />
provides wonderful resources in planning what<br />
comes next, whether it’s a career in entertainment<br />
or another field entirely.”<br />
Now an alumna of the program, actor and<br />
aspiring producer Aimee Teegarden joined in the<br />
first year. A performer since she was 10, her credits<br />
include NBC’s Emmy Award-winning series Friday Night<br />
Lights. Her Looking Ahead experience instilled a sense<br />
of responsibility, while also creating for her a community<br />
of peers outside her work in the business. “It was nice to<br />
be able to have somewhere to go as a young actor,” says<br />
Teegarden, “and to feel normal and feel like you fit in,<br />
and to have everyone get you without having to spend the<br />
whole time talking about work.”<br />
Aimee at a<br />
Bowling event in<br />
2003, and today.<br />
Looking Ahead helps kids see the bigger picture and<br />
focus on becoming happy, well-rounded adults through five main areas:<br />
• Social events to get together and have fun<br />
• Education support like college visits to evaluate schools and make plans<br />
• Support from knowledgeable social services staff<br />
• Service to encourage kids to give back to their community, and<br />
• Leadership councils to empower kids and encourage responsibility.<br />
“I think, when you’re working on a leadership council or any kind of<br />
council for any type of organization or job or business, you’re making<br />
stronger bonds with the people you’re with,” says Teegarden, who served<br />
on a Looking Ahead kids council. “But at the same time, it was awesome<br />
to have that opportunity to take charge and plan activities that we really<br />
wanted to see and do, and see it from start to finish… That was just a really<br />
cool great hands-on experience.”<br />
Through partnerships, Looking Ahead also creates new learning<br />
opportunities. For example, editors at Variety magazine regularly mentor<br />
kids to improve their interviewing, writing, editing and design skills, and<br />
publish the results in the program’s annual <strong>The</strong> Next Generation magazine,<br />
and Junior Journos in Variety’s annual Youth Impact Report.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> LA office is always so open,” says Teegarden. “Heather’s like,<br />
‘If you ever have a problem or if you want to talk or get coffee, I’m always<br />
here for you.’ It’s just so wonderful to know that resource is available.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Looking<br />
Ahead Team!<br />
Rocking out in the Jack Oakie<br />
Looking Ahead Center, a space<br />
in our LA offi ce where kids can<br />
study, relax, play games and<br />
meet. Clockwise from upper left:<br />
Social Worker Heather Vanian,<br />
Director of Social Services<br />
Tina Hookom, Administrative<br />
Coordinator Emmanuel<br />
Freeman, Youth Specialist<br />
Magen Senen and Education<br />
Counselor Laura Campbell.