About Us   A Brief History   Latest News   »  NABET Local 700 Doubles its Contribution to Fund   »  Theatre Cares Supports Actors' Fund of Canada with $5,000 Contribution   »  Directors Guild of Canada BC District Council Contributes $25,000 to Fund   »  Directors Guild of Canada National Office Announces 2009 Contribution to Fund   »  "The Sound of Music" Raises $11,700 for Fund   »  Toronto Talent Agencies Contribute $6,500 to Fund in Q4 2009   »  "A Chorus Line" Raises $54,000 for Fund and BC/EFA During Canadian Tour   »  Drayton Entertainment Announces Results of 2008-09 Season Fundraising for Fund   »  The Sweet Sound of Success: Sondheim in September Raises $10,000 for Fund   »  Award-Winning Toronto Performer Showcases New Work in Fund Benefit Concert   »  IATSE Local 411 Contributes $1,500 to Actors' Fund of Canada   »  Battlestar Galactica's Michael Hogan Auctions Props for Fund   »  Rush Ticket Sales for Final Matinee of Rock 'N' Roll at Citadel Theatre Support Fund   »  Tarragon Theatre Launches New Fundraising Campaign for Fund   »  Western Canada IATSE Locals Contribute $32,000 to Fund   »  Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival Raises $3,800 for Fund   »  Concrete Theatre Announces Nov. 7 Benefit for Fund   »  Actra Fraternal's 2009 Contribution to Actors' Fund Grows to $100,000   »  Manitoba Theatre Centre Renews Good Vibrations Campaign for Fund   »  Great Canadian Theatre Announces Plans for 2009-10 Actors' Fund Benefit   »  Western Canada Theatre Announces 2009-10 Actors' Fund Benefit   »  National Arts Centre English Theatre Announces 2009 Actors' Fund of Canada Benefit Performance   »  Theatre North West Announces 2009-10 Fund Benefit   »  Prairie Theatre Exchange Benefit Performance for 2009-10 Season   »  Stratford Shakespeare Festival Announces Performance of Cyrano De Bergerac to Benefit Fund   »  Gateway Theatre Announces Oct. 17 Benefit for Fund   »  Colin Mochrie and Hon. Sarmite Bulte, P.C. Appointed to Fund Board of Directors   »  Fund Launches Collaboration with Cosmetics Industry Leader Cover FX   »  Maria Topalovich Named to Playback Canadian Film and TV Hall of Fame   »  13th Annual Big Swing Tournament Raises $61,250   »  2009 Charity Challenge Opens with $10,800 Air Farce Donation   »  2008 Canadian TV Charity Challenge Winner   »  Live At The Met Cabaret Performance   »  Eight IATSE Locals Donate $47,800 to Actors' Fund   »  Actors' Fund Announces Final Entries in 2008 TV Charity Challenge   »  Cast of Jersey Boys Raises $32,000   »  Cast of A Chorus Line Raises $63,000   »  Actors' Fund Announces Board Appointments   »  CBC-TV's Sophie Joins 2008 TV Charity Challenge For Actors' Fund of Canada   »  CW Network's Reaper Joins 2008 TV Charity Challenge for Actors' Fund of Canada   »  CBC-TV's Heartland Raises $11,700 for Actors' Fund of Canada In 2008 TV Charity Challenge   »  Big Swing Golf Tournament Breaks Fundraising Record For Actors' Fund of Canada   »  Calgary Theatre Community Honours Fund with Honourary Betty Mitchell Award   »  ACTRA President Declares Actors' Fund of Canada a Cultural Treasure   »  IATSE International President Calls for Support for Actors' Fund   »  DGC Ontario Contributes $50,000 to Actors' Fund   »  $5,000 Contribution to Fund Launches ACTRA Montreal Member Challenge   »  Actors' Fund Awarded Honorary Dora Mavor Moore Award   »  Actors' Fund Launches 50+50 Campaign   »  DGC Alberta Rounds Up Support for Actors' Fund   »  Cake-Cutting Ceremony in Celebration of the Actors' Fund 50th Anniversary!   »  IATSE Local 58 Helps Set The Stage For Actors' Fund of Canada Anniversary   »  DGC National Office Renews Support For Actors' Fund of Canada   »  Manitoba Theatre Centre Makes 'Triple Threat' Contribution To Actors' Fund of Canada   »  ACTRA Manitoba Climbs Aboard 50th Anniversary Campaign   »  ACTRA Alberta Joins 50th Anniversary Campaign   »  ACTRA Saskatchewan Contribution   »  Canadian Stage's 'The Clean House' Cleans Up for Fund   »  I.A.T.S.E. Local 212 Joins 50th Anniversary Drive   »  AFBS Strengthens Commitment To Actors' Fund   »  DGC BC District Council Funding Increase   »  Actors' Fund & MPICA Announce Results of 10th Annual Auction   »  Martin Harbury Joins Fund Board of Directors   »  I.A.T.S.E. Local 891 Makes $18,000 Donation To The Actors' Fund of Canada   »  Actors' Fund of Canada Mourns Loss of Founder Barry Morse   »  I.A.T.S.E. Local 357 Throws Support Behind Actors' Fund of Canada   »  I.A.T.S.E. Local 856 Pledges Support For Actors' Fund of Canada   »  Three I.A.T.S.E. Locals Unite Behind Actors' Fund of Canada   »  The Actors' Fund of Canada: an unsung hero of Canadian culture   »  Maria Topalovich Joins Fund Board of Directors   »  Theatre Aquarius Benefit Raises $8,400   »  Fund Braces for Impact of WGA Strike   »  Fund Celebrates 50 Years in 2008   »  I.A.T.S.E. Support   »  Actra Fraternal $100,000 Grant   »  Stratford Festival Supports Fund   Charity Challenge   Online Theatre Kit   Big Swing 2010   More Than Applause   Reel Friends Plan   National   Advisory Board   Testimonials   Buy Merchandise   Donate Now   Apply for Assistance   Join our Mailing List   Other Resources   E-mail Us  Media Release CBC-TV's SOPHIE JOINS 2008 TV CHARITY CHALLENGE FOR ACTORS' FUND OF CANADA For Immediate Release: November 28, 2008 MONTREAL - The cast and crew of CBC-TV's Sophie have stepped into the ring and entered the 2008 TV Charity Challenge. The Challenge pits productions against each other in a good-natured rivalry to raise money for the Fund, each vying for bragging rights as the production that can have the most fun while raising the most money for the Actors' Fund. The Actors' Fund of Canada is the lifeline for Canada's entertainment industry. Sophie star Natalie Brown was enthusiastic in her praise for the Fund, saying: "I know from personal experience how tough it can be to make it in this business. Because of the sporadic nature of our industry, someone who gets sick, is injured or is suddenly out of work can be quite vulnerable to extreme financial distress. Canada wouldn't be what it is without its culture. The Actors' Fund makes it possible for so many of us to survive the hard blows the business can dish out and continue to produce work for Canadians to enjoy." Performers and others who work behind the scenes in Canada's performing arts and entertainment industries 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 $500,000 in the 12-month period that ended on March 31, 2008. 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. The Fund marks its 50th anniversary in 2008 with an effort to raise its national profile and unite entertainment industry members in support of its financial aid program. The Actors' Fund of Canada is a registered charity that has paid out over $3.5 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 receives no government funding and is wholly sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations. For TV Charity Challenge updates, visit: www.actorsfund.ca/charitychallenge/ --30-- CONTACT: David Hope, The Actors' Fund of Canada Phone: 1-877-399-8392 E-mail: contact@actorsfund.ca Web site: www.actorsfund.ca Top  ©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