About Us   A Brief History   Latest News   »  Local 891 Votes to Provide Ongoing Assistance to Fund   »  Great Canadian Theatre Company Raises $26,000 and Issues Fundraising Challenge for Fund   »  2010 Big Swing Golf Tournament Raises $62,000 for Actors’ Fund of Canada   »  Smile Theatre Contributes to Actors' Fund of Canada   »  Gavin Buhr Joins Funds National Advisory Board   »  2010 Film & TV Charity Challenge Kicks Off   »  Actors' Fund of Canada Wins Harold Award   »  Cover FX and The Actors' Fund of Canada Mark One Year of Partnership   »  Grand Theatre's Legends performance benefits Actors' Fund of Canada   »  Enrico Colantoni's Acting Workshop Raises Over $2,000 for the Fund   »  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   BC Golf Classic   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 ACTORS' FUND OF CANADA BRACES FOR IMPACT OF WGA STRIKE Flood of applications for financial aid from Canadian film & TV workers expected, special appeal for donations launched For Immediate Release: November 28, 2007 TORONTO - The Actors' Fund of Canada anticipates a dramatic increase in demand for emergency funding due to the current Writers Guild of America strike and has launched an on-line appeal to help meet the impending need. The Actors' Fund provides short-term emergency financial assistance for entertainment industry workers affected by illness, injury or other financial setback. Performers, technicians, creators and production team members can apply to the Fund, which delivers over $400,000 in rent payments, grocery money, medical costs, utility payments and other basic living expenses annually. With the strike still in full swing, the imminent slowdown in winter production, and the high Canadian dollar, thousands of technicians, performers and other industry professionals are already experiencing the beginnings of one of the worst financial crises of their careers. The Fund had already been hit by a 30% increase in demand this year and, even before the WGA strike, it projected that requests for emergency aid to help entertainment workers maintain their health, housing and ability to work would reach an all-time high this year - 13% above the last record set in 2004-05. A lengthy strike would mean even more financial hardship for many film & TV workers and their families this winter. Says Actors' Fund Executive Director, David Hope, "The Actors' Fund is a quick and compassionate way to deliver immediate financial aid that can make a difference between survival and destitution. We're urging entertainment industry members not affected by the strike to reach out to their colleagues who are in need by making a donation to the Actors' Fund today." The special appeal for donations consists of banner ads on Canadian entertainment industry web sites encouraging support for strike-bound workers. To make a donation, or to learn how you can help, visit www.actorsfund.ca. The Actors' Fund of Canada is a registered charity that has provided has provided over $3 million in emergency financial aid to entertainment industry professionals working in theatre, film & TV, music and dance in the last 10 years. The Actors' Fund 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 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