THE ACTORS' FUND OF AMERICA is the only national nonprofit organization that provides for the welfare of all entertainment professionals. A century ago, feelings of prejudice existed against people in the theatre. When actors and others engaged in the theatrical professions needed help, they had nowhere to turn. Founded in 1882, The Fund has grown to serve professionals in film, television, radio, music, opera, dance, as well as theatre. The organization assists performers and those behind the scenes including creative professionals, technical and crafts professionals and support staff.
Headquarters and The Aurora Residence are located in New York City. The Western Region office is in Los Angeles, and The Palm View Residence in West Hollywood, California. The Midwestern Region office is in Chicago, and The Lillian Booth Actors' Home of the Actors' Fund of America is located in Englewood, New Jersey. The Actors' Work Program has offices in New York City and Los Angeles.
The Actors' Fund mission is "to advance, foster and benefit the welfare of all professionals in the entertainment community who are in need of help, ensuring that these efforts are accomplished with compassion, confidentiality and preservation of dignity for the individuals concerned."
PROGRAMS...A Continuum of Care
The Actors' Fund provides comprehensive human services, enhanced by a variety of specialized programs, in addition to emergency grants for essentials such as food, rent and medical care. Services are designed to meet the needs of entertainment professionals throughout their lives including personalized case management and counseling, training and seminars.
SOCIAL SERVICES
- Services
To Employable Professionals (STEP) addresses the needs of members of the
entertainment community by focusing on the unique challenges of those with inconsistent
incomes. Services include assessment and referral, individual and group counseling,
financial management seminars and emergency financial assistance.
- Mental
Health Services provide evaluation and referral to a wide network of clinical
providers, who are familiar with industry issues and offer high-quality, affordable
services. Intensive case management and short-term treatment may be provided by Actors'
Fund's licensed social workers.
- The
AIDS Initiative helps those who are living with HIV/AIDS by ensuring that
they receive the care and support services necessary to cope with the disease. The Fund
offers HIV support groups, benefits advocacy, care partner support services, a
return-to-work program, as well as HIV-related counseling and financial assistance.
- Chemical
Dependency Services assist entertainment professionals, their families, and
industry employers to identify and respond to drug and alcohol addiction problems. By
staying involved through the recovery process, Fund social workers help individuals
through the transitions of treatment and provide ongoing support.
- Senior and Disabled Program
coordinates entitlements, home health care services and medical care for retirees and the
disabled to help them remain independent in the community. Home and hospital visits are
made as needed, and referrals to community-based elder care programs are available
nationally.
- Funeral and burial arrangements
have been provided by The Fund since 1904.
- Phyllis
Newman Women's Health Initiative identifies and addresses health issues which
impact women in the entertainment industry and enhances The Fund's health-related services
for women.
- Musicians Assistance Program
provides a full range of services on-site at the offices of the American Federation of
Musicians Local 802 in New York City.
- Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center, designed by The Fund and the National Endowment for the Arts, is a health insurance information resource center for the arts community nationwide.
Vocational Services
- The Actors'
Work Program offers individual career counseling, workshops, tuition grants
and scholarships for entertainment union members nationwide, and provides job listings
throughout the nation.
- AIDS Training and Education Project combines an Actors' Fund social worker, in conjunction with an Actors' Work Program career counselor, in assisting colleagues who are living with AIDS to deal with an important implication of their suddenly increased life expectancies - the possibility of returning to the workplace. ATEP addresses a critical need among entertainment professionals who are living with AIDS by providing training, education and counseling to help them achieve this return-to-work goal - a goal which was out of reach until recent medical developments.
Supportive Housing
- The Lillian Booth Actors' Home of the Actors' Fund of America,
located on six beautiful acres in Englewood, New Jersey, provides a comfortable environment
for entertainment professionals to enjoy their later years, regardless of resources. The
Assisted Living Care Facility is for individuals who are still active and can benefit from
special assistance. The Extended Care Nursing Home serves patients who can no longer take
care of themselves. Thus, the continuum of care allows for a smooth transition from
retirement, to assisted living, to extended care.
- The Aurora Residence on West 57th
Street in New York City provides supportive housing for special low-income groups
including seniors, working professionals and persons with AIDS. The Actors' Fund, sponsor
of the project, offers on-site social services. The 178 residential units combine a
majority of shared living apartments with individual occupancy units.
- The Palm View provides homes to entertainment professionals with HIV/AIDS. The Palm View consists of three buildings surrounding an outdoor courtyard, located behind two historic bungalows in West Hollywood, California.
NEW DIRECTIONS
Artists'
Health Insurance Resource Center
is a major health insurance information resource center for the arts community nationwide.
The project helps entertainment professionals gain the information needed to secure the
best and most economical health care coverage. Working closely with the NEA, The Actors'
Fund offers an innovative service which addresses a critical need for the entertainment
community. The primary means of accessing information is through this website and
toll-free phone number.
THE ACTORS' FUND BUDGET
Through an annual budget of $17 million, The Actors' Fund serves more than 6,000 individuals nationwide. In addition to the Homes in Englewood, The Aurora, The Palm View and providing social services, career training and counseling programs, The Actors' Fund dispersed more than $2.8 million in financial assistance grants in 2000. Approximately 79% of all expenditures directly support programs, and 21% of the budget covers administrative services. In 2000, 22 Special Performances of Broadway shows across the country benefited The Actors' Fund, raising over $1 million.
MEMBERSHIP/CONTRIBUTIONS
The Actors' Fund of America depends primarily on support from private contributions--individuals, foundations, corporations, organizations, unions. Planned gifts and bequests provide an invaluable source of support and are critical to the stability of The Actors' Fund. In addition, Inner Circle Memberships and Corporate Stars offer a range of opportunities including the purchase of house seats to Broadway shows, priority seating for Special Performances and star-studded events. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to The Actors' Fund, 729 Seventh Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10019.
SPOKESPERSON for The Actors' Fund
Joseph Benincasa, Executive Director
(212) 221-7300 - jbeninca@actorsfund.org
PUBLICITY CONTACT
Catherine Cooke, Director of Special
Events and Communications
(212) 221-7300 - ccooke@actorsfund.org
About The Actors' Fund | Human Services | Artists'
Health Insurance Resource Center | How You Can Help |
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