From a media release:
How to Be Indie and Men with Brooms Join 2010 Actors’ Fund Film & TV Charity Challenge
The 2010 Film and Television Charity Challenge continues to showcase the creativity and generosity of those working in the industry with the latest contributions coming from two new productions.
Returning YTV series How to Be Indie took the idea of creative fundraising seriously, holding a bake sale on its Toronto set. Led by cast member Sarena Parmar, cast and crew members participated by contributing sale items or buying each other’s goods. The event raised over $500 for the Fund and was an enjoyable break in the day, proving that taking part in the Charity Challenge can be fun and easy.
Winnipeg’s Men with Brooms, a comedy series set to debut this fall on CBC, raised $2,150 for the Challenge before the first episode has even aired! Cast member Joel Keller and Production Manager Dave Mahoney led cast and crew in showing their support of the Fund, resulting in a collection of over $1,000 to help industry members in need. Producer Ari Lantos agreed to match what was raised through individual donations.
Whether it’s by holding a bake sale or collecting individual donations, every production can find a way to participate in the Challenge. Past events have ranged from donating proceeds of a prop and costume auction to throwing a barbeque for 400 people, complete with silent auction, pony rides and live fiddlers. Some of the more popular ideas have been to hold a 50/50 draw on set with half the proceeds going to the Actors’ Fund, encouraging cast and crew to sign up for the Reel Friends payroll donation plan or raising money at the wrap party. Productions who want to do something splashier could plan a community event in keeping with the theme of the show. For more ideas and updates on the challenge please visit actorsfund.ca/charitychallenge
The Actors’ Fund of Canada is the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry. The Actors’ Fund is not just for actors: performers and those who work behind the scenes in film and television, theatre, music and dance can apply for emergency financial aid from the Fund, which recently set a new record for the amount of financial aid delivered to industry members in a single year, topping $600,000 in 2009. The Fund has helped over 10,000 entertainment industry workers recover from illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic and personal hardship since it was founded in 1958. The Actors’ Fund of Canada is a registered charity. It receives no government funding and is wholly sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations.
