The Actors Fund’s annual Gala on Monday night at the New York Marriott Marquis raised over $900,000, as more than 450 guests from the theater, television, film, industry, media and finance communities gathered to honor Academy Award®-winning actor Morgan Freeman and Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and former three-term Mayor of The City of New York.
The duo each received the Medal of Honor, the highest award given by The Actors Fund.
Film legend Michael Douglas presented the medal to Michael Bloomberg, by saying, "The Actors Fund is committed to everyone – from actors to opera singers to dancers to circus performers to carpenters, electricians, and stage managers….Last month, I learned that I am going to receive the Genesis Prize – a humanitarian award that Michael Bloomberg won last year.
So I figure – if everything holds to pattern – I should be standing here next year receiving The Actors Fund medal. It gives me something to look forward to.” In accepting the award, Bloomberg said, “I admire the mission and the compassion of The Actors Fund a great deal. I not only believe that professional artists are responsible for entertainment and enlightenment…but that they are the essence of what makes our City what it is.”
Actors Fund Trustee Bebe Neuwirth closed the evening by presenting the award to Morgan Freeman, who said, "The Actors Fund has done so much good, for so many, for so long, so rather than thank you for this award, let me instead thank you for all that you have done for our brothers and sisters in the entertainment industry.”
Special thanks to all of our evenings performers and special guests! The evening included performances by cast members from five Broadway musicals, including Tony Award nominees Lisa Howard of It Shoulda Been You, Tony Yazbeck from On The Town, Max von Essen of An American in Paris, Emily Skeggs from Fun Home and Phillip Attmore, Rick Faugno, Drew King and Richard Riaz Yoder from the Tony nominated On The 20th Century. The Gala also featured appearances by the Broadway Youth Ensemble, Michael Cerveris, Tyne Daly, Cady Huffman, Judith Light, Terrence McNally, David Hyde Pierce, Micah Stock, Nathaniel Parker, San Waterston and our Chairman, Brian Stokes Mitchell.
Thank you to all of our donors and supporters!
For more photos from the Gala, visit our Facebook album.
Join us for these exciting upcoming events and performances or learn more about how you can support The Actors Fund with a membership - and join a caring community that helps eveyrone in performing arts and entertainment in need, crisis or transition.