The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, is a
501(c)(3)
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of ...
charitable organization
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definitio ...
that supports performers and behind-the-scenes workers in
performing arts
The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. P ...
and
entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and Interest (emotion), interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but it is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have deve ...
, helping more than 17,000 people directly each year. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio, and dance, the Fund's programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, healthcare and insurance counseling, supportive and affordable housing, and employment and training services. The Fund owns and operates the
Lillian Booth Actors Home, a skilled nursing and assisted living facility in
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Englewood was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of Engle ...
.
History
The Entertainment Community Fund was founded as the Actors Fund of America by
Albert Marshman Palmer on June 8, 1882,
[ largely due to the efforts of former ]New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
student Harrison Grey Fiske, editor of the '' New York Dramatic Mirror'', who was aware of the many problems faced by those in the profession. The Actors Fund's first meeting was held in the theatre of president J. Lester Wallack. The Actor's Fund's first officers were Lester Wallack, president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
; Albert M. Palmer, vice president
A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...
; Daniel Frohman, secretary
A secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, personal secretary, or other similar titles is an individual whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, program evalu ...
; and Theodore More, treasurer
A treasurer is a person responsible for the financial operations of a government, business, or other organization.
Government
The treasury of a country is the department responsible for the country's economy, finance and revenue. The treasure ...
. The original bylaws said that the organization existed to "foster and benefit the physical, as well as advance the intellectual, welfare of the actors of America."
Funds raised at the 1892 Fair, held at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...
, enabled the charity to provide individuals and families with assistance, including burial plots in a Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
cemetery and accommodations in the Actors' Fund Home.
During the next decades, benefit performances held throughout the country raised significant amounts of revenue to subsidize the Fund's many projects. From 1960 through 1978 Louise Heims Beck
Louise Payton Heims Beck (February 23, 1889 – March 16, 1978), sometimes referred to as Mrs. Martin Beck, was an American librarian who became a Vaudeville, vaudeville performer and the wife of theatre impresario Martin Beck (vaudeville), Marti ...
was chairman of the Actors Fund's governing board. Today, the Fund sponsors many special events and performances, with numerous Broadway stars and Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood ...
celebrities hosting, performing, and attending. Theatres throughout the country frequently pledge proceeds from regularly scheduled performances to the charity.
Offices are maintained in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Additionally, the Fund is associated with a range of sister organizations which raise money through donations, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the guild/union relief funds of Actors' Equity, AFTRA; AGMA; AGVA; Episcopal Actors' Guild; the Jazz Foundation; the Professional Dancers Society; MusiCares, Society of Singers, and the Lambs.
In 1997, the Actors' Work Program (AWP) was incorporated into the Actors Fund's full spectrum of services. Today, the Actors Fund Work Program (AWP) assists entertainment industry and performing arts professionals in identifying and finding sideline work and new careers. The Fund in New York also hosts a weekly creative writing workshop held on Thursdays for disabled and senior citizen performers.
The Fund operates the Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence (formerly the Aurora), a site which provides supportive housing to special low-income groups including seniors, working professionals and people living with AIDS. The Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence opened in 1996 (as the Aurora) and the Actors Fund provides on-site social services for residents. The social services group provides information and referral to community resources, entitlement program advocacy, coordination of home care and medical services, outreach, health education and support groups. The on-site social services staff includes two social workers, three case managers, and an activities coordinator. The Actors Fund developed this supportive housing project with its partner, the Related Companies.
The Actors Fund's Palm View residence is a similar residential facility, located in West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757.
History
Most historical writing ...
. The Palm View, opened in 1998, is a 40-unit apartment complex that provides homes to low-income people with HIV/AIDS. The Palm View is a collaborative project between the Actors Fund, the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, Housing for Entertainment Professionals and various funders. The buildings are managed by the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation.
The Fund also owns and operates the Lillian Booth Actors Home, in Englewood, New Jersey, a nursing home
A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of older people, senior citizens, or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as care homes, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms ...
and assisted living care facility for retired members of the entertainment community. The home is licensed by the Department of Health and qualifies for Medicaid and Medicare. Individuals who have dedicated a major portion of their professional lives to the entertainment industry are eligible for admission. The Actors Fund provides funds to subsidize the care residents receive.
One of the earliest services the Actors Fund provided was assistance with the cost and arrangements of funerals and burials. In 1886, the Actors Fund purchased its first plot at the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
, and, in 1904, a second plot was purchased at Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery, located in Valhalla, New York, Valhalla, Westchester County, New York was founded in 1889, when many New York City cemeteries were becoming full, and rural cemeteries were being created near the railroads that served the city ...
in Valhalla, New York. These plots are the final resting place of over 2,000 members of the entertainment industry. Today, the Fund continues to assist with the cost of funerals and provide a grave site with a headstone to those in need. In addition, the Fund offers pre-pay arrangements for those interested in purchasing a grave site.
In 2014, Fund President and CEO Joseph P. Benincasa received the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre for outstanding contribution to the theatrical community for 25 years of service to the Fund. On September 21, 2015, the organization announced that it would merge with Career Transition for Dancers. In March, 2017, the Actors Fund opened the Samuel J. Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. This facility is in partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital and offers medical care for everyone in entertainment.
In May 2022, the organization changed its name to the Entertainment Community Fund, reflecting the broad scope of professionals the organization serves. In June 2023, Annette Bening
Annette Carol Bening (born May 29, 1958) is an American actress. With a career spanning over four decades, she is known for List of Annette Bening performances, her versatile work across screen and stage. Bening has received List of awards an ...
was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Entertainment Community Fund.
Services
The Fund's programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, healthcare and insurance counseling, supportive and affordable housing, and employment and training services.
See also
* Motion Picture and Television Fund
* Actors Fund Medal of Honor
References
External links
*
Lillian Booth Actors Home
The Actors Fund of Canada
{{Authority control
Entertainment Community Fund
1882 establishments in the United States
Organizations established in 1882
Special Tony Award recipients
501(c)(3) organizations