Annual 2017 Report Our ongoing investment into increasing services for the senior In 2017, The Actors Fund Dear Friends, members of our creative community has resulted in 1,474 senior and helped 13,571 people in It was a challenging year in many ways for our nation, but thanks retired performing arts and entertainment professionals served in to your generous support, The Actors Fund continues, stronger 2017, and we’re likely to see that number increase in years to come. 48 states nationally. than ever. Our increased activities programming extends to Los Angeles, too. Our programs and services With the support of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, The Actors Whether it’s our quick and compassionate response to disasters offer social and health services, Fund started an activities program at our Palm View residence in West ANNUAL REPORT like the hurricanes and California wildfires, or new beginnings, employment and training like the openings of The Shubert Pavilion at The Actors Fund Hollywood that has helped build community and provide creative outlets for residents and our larger HIV/AIDS caseload. And the programs, emergency financial Home (see cover photo), a facility that provides world class assistance, affordable housing 2017 rehabilitative care, and The Friedman Health Center for the Hollywood Arts Collective, a new affordable housing complex and more. Performing Arts, our brand new primary care facility in the heart aimed at the performing arts community, is of Times Square, The Actors Fund continues to anticipate and in the development phase. provide for our community’s most urgent needs. Mission Our work would not be possible without an engaged Board as well as the efforts of our top notch staff and volunteers. 89 CENTS OF The Actors Fund fosters Together, we’re building on the foundation of our mission, by not only providing a safety net for performing arts and entertainment EVERY DOLLAR In addition, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS continues stability and resiliency, professionals over their lifespan, but also providing services that directly supports our to be our steadfast partner, assuring help is there in these will foster stability and resiliency and allow our community to programs and services. uncertain times. and provides a safety thrive at all stages of their careers. net for performing arts Your support is part of a grand tradition of caring for our A major focus last year was the development of a three-year entertainment and performing arts community. Thank you and entertainment strategic plan to help align our institutional goals with the for helping to assure that the show will go on, and on. Charity Navigator, America’s professionals over changing needs of the performing arts and entertainment premier independent charity communities we serve. During the next three years, we plan to: their lifespan. evaluator, has awarded us their highest rating. • Maximize partnerships with entertainment industry unions, associations and employers to serve more people; • Grow The Actors Fund’s impact nationally by expanding our Brian Stokes Mitchell Joseph P. Benincasa Vision Chicago office and bringing a selection of our programs to Chairman of the Board President & CEO We envision a world two new creative communities each year; and in which individuals • Create new residential opportunities to meet the housing needs of the people we serve. contributing to our DONATE ONLINE: actorsfund.org/Donate country’s cultural We are looking at increasing social work staff in strategic areas, enhancing our technology to strengthen our ability to provide vibrancy are remote programming, and improving our messaging to help our supported, valued community understand that, despite our name, The Actors Fund helps everyone in performing arts and entertainment—not just Stars from the Broadway company of and economically actors. Cats stopped by for their flu shots from secure. our Friedman Health Center primary care In early 2018, The Actors Fund opened The Waldman Living specialists Dr. Jason Kindt and Dr. Ramon Room, a new senior center for elderly and retired arts Pesigan. The Health Center gave more professionals housed in our Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence than 1,000 flu shots last season to pro- on West 57th Street in Manhattan. The Waldman Living Room fessionals in film, theater, dance, music and performing arts. (l–r): Dr. Jason Kindt, provides a dedicated home for our activities programming and Claire Rathbun, Tyler Hanes and The Shubert Pavilion at The Actors Fund a home base for seniors in our community to congregate and Dr. Ramon Pesigan. Home provides subacute rehabilitation participate in a variety of creative activities as well as health to help patients recover from illness or and wellness programming to address the practical concerns of surgery before returning home. (See page 13). aging in New York City. Photo: Don Pearse Photographers, Inc. actorsfund.org/HealthCenter Social Services Health and Senior Care Young Performers and Emergency Health Insurance Financial Assistance The Career Center Housing Financial Wellness Our Services & Programs We offer a broad spectrum of programs to support the unique, essential needs of all who work in entertainment and the performing arts. Whether on stage or on camera, behind the scenes or below the line, we assist everyone working in theater, film, television, radio, music, dance, opera and circus. Administered through our offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, these programs help people across the country solve problems and make positive changes in their lives. 5 2017 SOCIAL SERVICES 2017 annual report & EMERGENCY IMPACTS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Since 1882, The Actors Fund has been an Pioneers of the breakdance world, Rokafella (right) and Kwikstep (center) are world-renowned dancers who faced a devastating essential resource for loss when their home was destroyed in a fire. Our social workers were able to provide access to emergency financial assistance, as professionals working well as emotional support and connection to housing, legal and financial resources. “If it weren't for The Actors Fund supporting our recovery from this tragedy, we could not have returned to the stage and to our lives with a sense of hope. They were a true in performing arts and lifeline when we needed it most." entertainment. Our free and confidential Sexual Harassment—Union, Performing BY THE NUMBERS social service programs address We meet a critical need. Creative work Arts Organizations and Partner Trainings a wide array of challenges faced is often sporadic, carries fewer benefits, 136 YEARS by people who work in the arts. of commitment to Theprovides Actors Fund noled training traditional sessions on howcareer to address ladder, sexual the performing arts With respect, compassion and harassment issues for over 25 unions, universities and performing arts and entertainment organizationsand takes around people the country. far We fromoffer confidential home crisisand and short- community understanding, our professional term supportive counseling, education on individual rights and legal social workers offer counseling avenues,support as well networks. as referrals to related resources and other clinical services. and support groups, education, Visit actorsfund.org/Assistance. $2,027,867 emergency financial assistance MILLION and practical help around a broad "They were so caring. It felt in emergency spectrum of issues including like meeting a new friend and financial assistance* HIV/AIDS, women’s health, that’s what The Actors Fund PEOPLE disability support, senior services, has become, my friend.” 7,368 and addiction and recovery. helped nationally DONICA is an actress from Chicago. *Financial assistance is provided for The Actors Fund responded right critical needs such as preventing eviction, away with emergency financial covering health insurance premiums and aid and supportive services electric, gas, telephone or other essential living expenses. when she was faced with a brain cancer diagnosis. OUR PROGRAMS Entertainment Phyllis Newman Mental Health Conrad Cantzen Assistance Program Women's Health Shoe Fund Learn more: Addiction and Our professional social workers work HIV/AIDS Initiative Initiative Recovery Services Funeral and actorsfund.org/Services with clients one-on-one and through an Disability Support Burial Assistance array of groups and seminars that help The Dancers’ Resource Employer/Union to foster stability and resiliency over the Senior Services Partner Programs Online Resources Photos: Jay Brady Photography entire lifespan of our community. 7 2017 THE CAREER 2017 annual report CENTER IMPACTS The Career Center at The Actors Fund provides a wide range of career management services to performing Our Career Transition for Dancers pro- arts and entertainment gram provides career counseling, work- shops, scholarships and other resources professionals throughout to help dancers achieve career stability, their working lives. resiliency and professional development at any stage of their dance career. Photo: Nina Prommer Our career counseling, education and training, job development, and entrepreneurship services The Actors Fund is for everyone. Actors Career Transition help people find work that can be done while continuing in the is part of our name, but did you catch For Dancers industry or while developing a new our tag line? We’re here for dancers, The Actors Fund has long professional direction. Offering supported the dance musicians, writers and many more. community