Fall 2012 - The Actors Fund

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Community & Collaboration in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has been called the “entertainment capital of the world.”
According to the 2011 OTIS Report on the Creative Economy, the LA
entertainment business accounts for an estimated $71.1 billion in economic
impact, and more than a quarter-million jobs in the area. That’s big money,
but it also means big talent, as Southern California’s creative community is
responsible for producing the movies, documentaries, TV shows, music and
so much more that drive a considerable portion of that economy.
But like everywhere, the current recession has had a negative impact on
this community, and in the sprawling Los Angeles region, finding help when
you need it can seem daunting. With a metropolitan area spread over 300
square miles, 88 municipalities and a network of more than 500 miles of freeways,
Los Angeles has been described as 100 communities in search of a city.
Where do you turn when you need help?
Thanks to your support, the creative community turns to The Actors Fund.
We serve as home-base to thousands of people in entertainment, whether it’s
through our support groups, youth programs, health insurance counseling,
social services, emergency financial aid, or employment and training services,
The Fund is there to lend support, guidance and give a “leg up” to people in
our industry.
Hollywood has always been there for The Fund—just as The Fund has
been there from Hollywood’s beginnings—to help our compatriots in need.
From the early days of the industry, when people like Douglas Fairbanks
performed in a 1916 “Roman Spectacle” benefit production of Julius Caesar
in the Beachwood natural amphitheatre (today’s Hollywood Bowl), to this past
March, when the cast of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy donated a one-night-only
benefit at UCLA’s Royce Hall (see p. 1 for a special message from Grey’s
executive producer Shonda Rhimes), the tradition of caring for everyone in
entertainment continues to this day.
To better serve the region, 40 years ago we opened our Los Angeles office,
and our presence and programs have grown exponentially since then. Today,
22 LA staff members ensure our myriad programs and services are available to
the wide variety of people working in entertainment. From Texas to Washington,
our LA office helps people in 14 states (including Alaska and Hawaii). We
are there for writers, actors, musicians, gaffers, electricians, camera operators,
production assistants, editors, and hundreds of others both “behind the scenes”
and “below the line”—everyone who makes the magic happen.
Together, we’re creating a unique and much-needed community of
entertainment professionals in the area (see p. 3 for an overview of who and
how we serve). The Fund provides a vital link, and—most importantly—brings
people together so they can help each other.
The Los Angeles office—like our New York and Chicago offices—
continues to respond to the essential and evolving needs that arise due to
national and regional challenges. For example, during the AIDS crisis in the
early 1980s, The Fund was there to help people in the industry cope with the
Our Los Angeles Office!
Our LA staff comprises professional social workers, career counselors,
youth specialists and education counselors who specialize in helping our
community deal with the unique challenges of a career in entertainment.
For a list of our entire team, visit actorsfund.org/staff.
Back row (l-r): Meg Thomas, Robin LaBorwit, Mallory Morehead, Amanda Steele,
Amy Hammond, Tina Hookom, Ze’Ev Korn, Joanne Webb, Louie Anchondo,
Angelique Prahalis, Frank Salamone. Seated (l–r): Dan Kitowski, Karen Hanen,
Gregory Polcyn, Annie Keating-Scherer, Joey Shanley, John Mattson. Not pictured:
Jan-Kees Van Der Gaag, TaNisha Harris, Keith McNutt, Caitlin Sorenson.
Grey’s Anatomy raised $100,000 for The Fund at their March 18 one-night-only event!
(l-r): Western Region Director Keith McNutt, Sarah Drew, Trustee Jomarie Ward,
Kevin McKidd, Western Council Chair & Vice Chair John Holly & Ilene Graff,
Shonda Rhimes, President Joe Benincasa, Kim Raver and James Pickens, Jr.
disease, and established a community committed to extending support
with dignity and respect for all. In 1998, The Fund opened the Palm View
residence, which today provides 40 units for low income people living with
HIV/AIDS.
The Fund also quickly responded to the industry strike and labor disputes
in 2007–08, serving five times the usual number of people helped by the office
and distributing more than $1.5 million in emergency grants. More recently,
our clients have sought support due to a new wave of regional job losses
(see Responding to Unique Economic Challenges in LA on p. 6).
All told, The Actors Fund has provided more than $10.7 million
in emergency financial aid to nearly 13,000 entertainment
professionals across Southern California in the last decade.
“There are huge challenges to remaining healthy and creative in this
industry,” says Fund Western Council Chair John Holly. “That’s why it’s
essential that we build awareness that we’re here for everyone. This
community relies on The Fund to overcome issues like lack of work, aging in
the industry, and adjusting to quickly evolving trends. We’ve almost doubled
the number of people we serve in the last five years alone. That speaks to a
real need out there, and it’s a challenge we’re prepared to meet.”
In this issue of Marquee, we turn the spotlight on our Los Angeles office.
In addition to our front page piece by Shonda Rhimes, you’ll also hear from
the clients we serve (pgs. 5 and 6), get a visual snapshot who and how we help
(p. 3) and more. Whether it’s through collaboration with other organizations or
through our direct services, our goal is always the same—ensuring people in
entertainment stay safe, healthy, employed and creative. Here’s to Hollywood!
The Western Council
Our Western Council works tirelessly to raise awareness about and
support for our programs and services for the LA community. They
joined Jason Alexander, Scott Bakula and Annie Potts for our June
10 Tony Party at the Skirball Center, where we presented Jason
with the Julie Harris Award.
Fund Western Region Director Keith McNutt, William Thomas, Ilyanne Morden
Kichaven, Michael Medico, Jomarie Ward, Richard Herd, Vice Chair David Rambo,
Jason Alexander, Vice Chair Ilene Graff, Scott Bakula, James Karen, John Acosta,
Danny Goldman, B. Harlan Boll, Fund Events Manager Meg Thomas. Seated (l–r):
Charlotte Rae, Annie Potts. Not pictured: Barbara Allyne Bennet, Joni Berry,
Theodore Bikel, John Bowab, Pam Dixon, Budd Friedman, Katherine Fugate, Dan
Guerrero, Bridget Hanley, Daniel Henning, John Holly, Scott Roth, Joseph Ruskin,
Bryan Unger, Ken Werther, Mary Lou Westerfi eld, Martin Wiviott, David Young.
marQuee FALL 2012
volume 15, number 2
The Actors Fund is a national
human services organization
that helps all professionals
in performing arts and
entertainment. The Fund is a
safety net, providing programs
and services for those who are
in need, crisis or transition.
National Headquarters
729 Seventh Avenue
10th Floor
New York, NY 10019
212.221.7300
Fax: 212.764.0238
Central Region
8 South Michigan Avenue
Suite 601
Chicago, IL 60603
312.372.0989
Fax: 312.372.0272
Western Region
5757 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.933.9244
Fax: 323.933.7615
The Al Hirschfeld Free
Health Clinic
475 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
212.489.1939
The Dorothy Ross
Friedman Residence
(formerly The Aurora)
New York, NY
212.489.2020
The Palm View
West Hollywood, CA
323.933.9244
The Lillian Booth
Actors Home
Englewood, NJ
201.871.8882
The Schermerhorn
Brooklyn, NY
718.640.1845
Marquee
212.221.7300 ext. 176
Fax: 212.536.7658
dengelman@actorsfund.org
Actors Fund Programs:
SOCIAL SERVICES
Entertainment Assistance
Program
Mental Health
Chemical Dependency
HIV/AIDS Initiative
Senior and Disabled Care
Phyllis Newman Women’s
Health Initiative
Financial Wellness
The Dancers’ Resource
American Comedy Fund
HOWL Emergency
Life Project
Conrad Cantzen Shoe Fund
Funerals and Burials
Union/Partner Programs
HEALTH SERVICES
Artists Health Insurance
Resource Center
Al Hirschfeld Free
Health Clinic
EMPLOYMENT
AND TRAINING
The Actors Fund Work
Program (AWP)
SUPPORTIVE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Lillian Booth
Actors Home
The Dorothy Ross
Friedman Residence
(formerly The Aurora)
The Schermerhorn
The Palm View
Celeste Holm
1917–2012
In Memoriam
Dale Olson
1934–2012
A.J. Pocock
1922–2012
We mourn the passing of our devoted Trustees Celeste Holm,
Dale Olson and A.J. Pocock. Each played leading roles for
The Fund, and we will miss them. Celeste and Dale served as chairs
of the committee overseeing The Lillian Booth Actors Home, and both
helped create the best possible quality of life for our residents.
When the HIV/AIDS crisis devastated the entertainment community,
Dale was among the first to speak out for those in need. In 1990, A.J. led
the merger of The Percy Williams Home into The Actors Fund, creating a
$3.2 million endowment. He also succeeded Colleen Dewhurst as
Chair of the Human Services Committee, and led our Budget and
Finance Committee. We applaud their commitment to making the world
a better place—especially their dedication to bringing comfort and relief
to thousands of our colleagues in the performing arts community.
For more information on Actors
Fund programs, please call
800.221.7303 or visit our
website at www.actorsfund.org.
Photo credits:
Scott Appel, Robert Ascroft,
Lyn Hughes, Dexter Kim/
Writers Guild of America,
West, Eric Richardson,
Magen Senen, Jordan Strauss
Design: Holly Wheeler
Copy: David Engelman,
Karissa Krenz, Jeff Potter,
Shonda Rhimes