The Entertainment Community Fund has partnered with writer and producer Seth MacFarlane to raise another $10 million to support all entertainment industry workers. To kick off the initiative, MacFarlane is donating an additional $5 million following his $1 million donation in July.
“There aren’t enough words to express our tremendous gratitude to Seth as he continues to help those in need, all while inspiring others with this call to action to do the same,” says Entertainment Community Fund Chair of the Board Annette Bening. “At this rate, we’ll need at least $10 million to continue helping people in the coming weeks. Seth’s gift is an incredible contribution to help us be able to do that, and we hope others join in as well.”
“We are eternally grateful to Seth for this extremely generous donation,” adds Entertainment Community Fund President and CEO Joe Benincasa. “We know that there will be long-term ramifications of the work stoppage that will continue to impact people’s lives and well-being for months to come, and this transformative gift will allow us to continue to answer the influx of requests for help we get each day.”
As of September 19, the Fund has distributed more than $7.4 million to more than 3,515 film and TV workers, including writing assistants, production assistants, key grips, gaffers, lighting and sound designers, script supervisors, people working in craft services, hair and make-up, wardrobe, and more.
Due to the work stoppage, the Fund is currently distributing about $400,000-$500,000 per week (compared to an average of $75,000 per week in the first half of 2023).
Since May 1, the Fund has raised over $10.1 million from more than 10,800 donors. Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw donated $1.5 million to be dispersed between the Fund as well as the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program. The Fund also received a $250,000 matching gift challenge donation from Herb Alpert via the Herb Alpert Foundation. That donation was immediately matched by an anonymous donor, bringing the total gift to $500,000.
Additional notable donors include The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation, Stacey Abrams, Annette Bening, Tom Bergeron, Greg Berlanti, Rachel Bloom, Nancy and Steve Carrell, Rosanne Cash in memory of Johnny Cash, Suzanne Collins and Cap Pryor, Minnie Driver, Vince Gilligan, Lynn Nottage, Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley, Daniel Radcliffe, Shonda Rhimes, and Chandra Wilson.
The Fund’s emergercy financial assistance application, services, and programs are all free, confidential, and accessible online, and can be found by clicking here.
