SAG-AFTRA Basis President Courtney B. Vance introduced Wednesday that the nonprofit has raised greater than $15 million for its emergency monetary help program, thanks largely to contributions from greater than a dozen of Hollywood’s highest-earning stars who’ve donated. for one greenback. million or extra.
The leisure trade is in disaster and SAG-AFTRA is presently processing greater than 30 instances the same old variety of requests for emergency help. “We obtained 400 purposes within the final week alone,” Vance stated in an announcement about his fundraising efforts over the previous three weeks. “It is a gigantic problem, however we’re decided to fulfill this second.”
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final week, diverse exclusively reported that Dwayne Johnson had contributed a “historic” seven-figure donation, a quantity that Vance described as a “name to arms” for everybody “to come back ahead in no matter method they will.”
However Johnson isn’t alone. Greater than a dozen leaders have answered the decision, every donating $1 million or extra, together with George and Amal Clooney; Luciana and Matt Damon. Leonardo DiCaprio; Hugh Jackman and Deborah Lee Furness; Nicole Kidman; Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck; Ryan Reynolds and Blake Vigorous; Julia Roberts; Arnold Schwarzenegger; Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey.
“I pleaded with our group to recollect how arduous it was, and the response to assist their fellow actors has been superb, quick and heartwarming,” Vance stated of their contributions, acknowledging Johnson, who “helped get this marketing campaign began.”
Then he saluted Streep and Clooney, each longtime champions of the inspiration and members of its Board of Representatives, who “stepped up with one million {dollars} in donations, emails, and lots of calls to motion to provoke others to donate generously.”
Due to the group’s mixed efforts, Vance concluded, “we crushed our preliminary objective of getting our employees come collectively, however we’re nonetheless not executed. We’ll proceed to fundraise to be able to meet the huge wants of our group now and sooner or later.”
Streep and Clooney additionally shared remarks concerning the urgency actors are dealing with within the midst of the historic double strike.
“I keep in mind my days as a waitress, a employee, a author, and even my time on the unemployment line,” Streep stated, explaining her want to return the favor. “On this strike, I’m lucky to have the ability to assist those that will battle in lengthy enterprise to maintain Joliet. Collectively we’ll stand sturdy towards these highly effective firms bent on taking humanity, human dignity, and even humanness out of our occupation. I’m happy with my fellow actors who instantly provided to fund this system Emergency monetary help.
Clooney, who He issued a statement expressing his solidarity with the union When the strike was known as on July 13, he added: “We’re able to get again to the desk and strike a good take care of AMPTP. Till then, I’m proud to have the ability to assist the SAG-AFTRA Basis and fellow representatives who could also be struggling at this historic second. We stood on the shoulders of the likes of Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney and it is time for our era to return the favor.”
He continued, “I can not thank Courtney sufficient for his dedication to unite this effort by highlighting the human toll that’s happening proper now, and the way we will work collectively to alleviate a number of the ache and struggling.”
Information of the eight-figure mixed donation comes as SAG-AFTRA reps hit picket strains for a 3rd week, whereas WGA writers have been on strike for greater than 90 days. Notably, on the day SAG-AFTRA introduced the strike, Damon was doing the worldwide press excursions with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”; solid I walked out of the London premiere In solidarity with.
“It is actually concerning the working solid,” stated Damon. miscellaneous Manuri Raveendran on the pink carpet. “It is $26,000 to qualify for well being protection and lots of people are on the sidelines and the remaining funds make them over that restrict. This is not a tutorial train. That is actual life and demise stuff. Hopefully we will get to a repair rapidly. Nobody needs to cease working, however we now have to get Honest deal.”
Within the days that adopted, many puzzled why the picket strains existed It lacks star power.
“The actual place A-listers may help is by donating to aid cash and lobbying the studio heads behind the scenes,” stated one agent. miscellaneous Matt Donnelly whereas reporting on the completely different methods behind the reason for the largest names in Hollywood They may (or may not) raise their sit signs.
For details about the SAG-AFTRA Basis Emergency Monetary Help Program and the right way to apply, go to sagaftra.foundation/em Emergencyassistanceand to assist the fund, go to sagaftra. foundation/donate.
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