|
|
|
Media Release
|
|
| |
|
For Immediate Release:
February 4, 2008
|
TORONTO - The Actors' Fund of Canada mourns the passing of actor Barry Morse, who had been one of its two surviving founders. Mr. Morse co-founded the Fund with Donald Davis, Barbara Hamilton, Jane Mallett and William Needles, who put $1 each into a pot to start up the benevolent organization which was incorporated on May 27, 1958. Mr. Morse died on February 2.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, the Actors' Fund has become the lifeline for Canada's entertainment industry. The Fund provides vital aid to workers in film & TV, theatre, music and dance to help with their recovery from an illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe financial hardship.
Performers, creators, technical staff and other production team members can benefit from the Fund, which has paid out over $3 million in rent payments, grocery money, utility payments and other basic living expenses in the last 10 years. The Fund is experiencing a record high demand and expects its total emergency relief payments for the year to reach half a million dollars by its fiscal year end on March 31.
Commenting on Mr. Morse's passing Actors' Fund of Canada President Graham Harley states, "Barry Morse had a long and remarkable career on stage, screen and radio, and made an enormous contribution through his humanitarian and charitable work. He was a supporter of many causes but it was through his role as a founder and as the first Treasurer of the Actors' Fund that his generous spirit found its most profound expression. As we mark our fiftieth anniversary we are especially proud of his legacy. The organization that he helped to launch has given thousands of his colleagues in the entertainment industry new hope when they were at their most vulnerable point both personally and professionally. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family."
Mr. Harley recently completed an essay documenting the history of the Actors' Fund, soon to be published on the Fund's web site at www.actorsfund.ca.
The Actors' Fund of Canada is a registered charity. It receives no government funding and is wholly sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations.
|
--30--
|
CONTACT:
David Hope, The Actors' Fund of Canada
Phone: 1-877-399-8392
E-mail: contact@actorsfund.ca
Web site: www.actorsfund.ca
|
| |
|
|
|
|
©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
|
|
|
