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Media Release
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For Immediate Release: June 8, 2010
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TORONTO - The Actors' Fund of Canada is honoured to have been chosen as a recipient of a 2010 Harold Award for Outstanding Contributions to Toronto's Performing Arts Scene. Named for the late Harold Kandel, a theatregoer and frequent heckler, the annual awards give recognition to some of the unsung heroes of Toronto theatre. The 2010 awards were presented at a ceremony attended by members the theatre community in May.
Actors' Fund President Barry Flatman was present to accept the award, saying "This is a complete surprise; I came here to celebrate theatre and have some fun and had no idea we had been nominated for an award. It's an honour for the Fund to have received this award and to be counted among so many wonderful individuals past and present." Throughout the night donations for the Fund were collected and over $500 was raised. "The response from everybody at the event was truly amazing" said Barry. "I was touched to see how supportive people were of the Fund winning a Harold and how willing people were to give generously."
The Harold Awards are unique in the way recipients are chosen. Along with an unusual statuette, each Haroldee is given the privilege of choosing a worthy recipient to be honoured with an award in the following year. Scenic Designer Lindsay Anne Black was awarded a Harold in 2009 in recognition for her work on sets and costumes at theatres throughout Ontario and nominated the Fund for a 2010 Harold. In giving the award to the Actors Fund, Black said "As soon as Allyson McMackon presented me with my Harold Award last year, I knew to whom I wanted to pass it on. I am extremely lucky in my life and in my work that I am surrounded by people who would be very deserving of this award. I have chosen, instead, to pass mine on to someone whom I have barely met in person. Despite not knowing me personally, either, my Haroldee has come to my rescue twice. The first time was right after my divorce, and then again when an unauthorized student loan payment was taken out of my bank account and I almost lost my car. During these times they were my greatest supporter. I can honestly say that without their help I would not be standing here today, and I'm sure that the same is true for many of you. My Haroldee is approaching 60. I think they are a saint. I wish so much that this were a million dollars, but I am honoured and I am humbled to have the opportunity to present this award to the Actors' Fund of Canada."
The Actors' Fund of Canada is the lifeline for Canada's entertainment industry. The Actors' Fund is not just for actors: performers and those 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 2009. 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 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.
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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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