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Media Release
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For Immediate Release: October 28, 2009
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TORONTO - Actra Fraternal Benefit Society (AFBS) has continued to show its support for the Actors' Fund of Canada by announcing a donation of $25,000, bringing its total 2009 contribution to the Fund to $100,000.
Actra Fraternal President and CEO Robert M. Underwood made it clear how important the Fund's work is, stating: "It has been a challenging year on the markets and Actra Fraternal has not been left unscathed. Despite these challenges, supporting the important work of the Fund remains a priority for us. Our organizations often find themselves working in tandem and a strong Actors' Fund is integral to helping artists in crisis."
The Actors' Fund of Canada is the lifeline for Canada's entertainment industry. Performers and others who work behind the scenes in film and television, theatre, music and dance can apply for emergency financial aid from the Fund, which recently set a new record for the amount of financial aid delivered to industry members in a single year, topping $600,000 in fiscal 2008-09. The Fund has helped over 10,000 entertainment industry workers recover from illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic and personal hardship since it was founded in 1958.
Actors' Fund Executive Director David Hope expressed the Fund's gratitude, saying "The extraordinary support of Actra Fraternal is a key factor that allows us to continue our work after facing an 11% increase in demand in 2008. We receive support from many sources but the annual contributions of AFBS have helped to form the financial structure that underpins our operations. Not only does Actra Fraternal contribute to us financially, they also work collaboratively with us and provide us with office space and access to their boardroom. Their support cannot be measured in numbers alone and we look forward to working with them in the years to come."
Actra Fraternal Benefit Society is a not-for-profit, member-owned, federally incorporated insurance company that has been in operation for over 25 years. Members are primarily members of ACTRA and the Writers' Guild of Canada. AFBS provides life and health insurance, supplementary health care coverage, funding for scholarships, and funeral expenses. A separate retirement fund provides various registered retirement saving plans and registered income funds to members.
The Actors' Fund is a registered charity that has paid out over $3.7 million in rent payments, grocery money, utility payments and other basic living expenses in the last 10 years. Performers, creators, technical staff and other production team members can benefit from the Fund, which is sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations.
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CONTACT:
David Hope, The Actors' Fund of Canada
Phone: 1-877-399-8392
E-mail: contact@actorsfund.ca
Web site: www.actorsfund.ca
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©2010 The Actors' Fund of Canada - 1000 Yonge Street, Suite 301 Toronto, ON M4W 2K2
contact@actorsfund.ca / Tel: 416.975.0304 / Toll-Free: 1.877.399.8392 / Fax: 416.975.0306
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