The Actors Fund helps...
 Krysten, through Looking Ahead.
“The Actors Fund´s Looking Ahead is our program for young performers dealing with the challenges of working in the entertainment industry. Through a variety of activities and services, Looking Ahead helps kids ages 9 to 18, guiding them through assorted issues like home/work/school balance, developing positive friendships, transitioning to college and more. It also enables them—from time to time—to take a break, have fun and be a regular teenager.
One of the program´s recent "graduates" (she´s now 21) is Krysten Jones, who looks back fondly on her time with Looking Ahead. As a young actor, Krysten appeared in numerous films and television programs, including Remember the Titans (she played Denzel Washington´s daughter)...
Click here to read Krysten´s story.
Donate today so The Actors Fund can continue to help young performers through Looking Ahead.
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 Five Questions for...
Fred Savage
On April 9, Nickelodeon´s animation studio in Burbank will host Looking Ahead´s Pic @ Nick spring picnic. One of the day´s highlights—during which hundreds of young professional performers will mingle and participate in carnival activities—will be a panel moderated by Looking Ahead Advisory Committee Chair Fred Savage, an inspiring member of the entertainment community who made the successful transition from young actor (and star of the long-running hit The Wonder Years) to thriving television director. In advance of Pic @ Nick, Fred took some time to answer a few of our questions.
Q. Why is a program like Looking Ahead so important for young performers in the "business?"
A. Looking Ahead is incredibly important because it nurtures two of the most important aspects of every child's life—social interaction and planning for the future...
Click here to read full interview.
Are you a young performer and interested in joining Looking Ahead? Contact Education Counselor Laura Campbell at 323.933.9244 or lcampbell@actorsfund.org.
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Affordable Housing in Downtown Los Angeles
 Always searching for ways to support and expand the availability of affordable housing, our Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation (AFHDC) is coordinating research on behalf of the City of Los Angeles as part of the NEA-funded exploration of opportunities in the city´s historic downtown Broadway neighborhood. Focusing on the Mayor´s initiative to develop a "Broadway Arts Center" as a catalyst, the research is looking into the feasibility of a mixed-use facility that would incorporate affordable housing, an urban campus for Cal Arts, commercial and retail facilities.
The Fund´s Western Region Director Keith McNutt and AFHDC CEO Scott Weiner, together with colleagues from Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Bringing Back Broadway and Artspace Projects, Inc., led a gathering of more than 130 people this February, which offered an overview of the project concept and asked for feedback on six areas: the kind of housing needed, building amenities, site selection, funding sources, living downtown and revitalization of the area. So far, the positive feedback is encouraging, and AFHDC and its partners will continue its study throughout the upcoming year. Stay tuned for updates!
Questions or ideas to share on this or other AFHDC projects? Contact Scott Weiner at 212.221.7300 ext. 106 or sweiner@actorsfund.org.
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Check Out The Home´s New Brochure
The Actors Fund has released its latest brochure—a gorgeous informational booklet on The Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, NJ. Featuring a little history, photographs of our extraordinary residents and detailed information about the facility, the brochure succinctly shares all you need to know about one of The Fund´s most important endeavors. Click here to view online, or contact The Home at 201.871.8882 and we´ll gladly mail you a copy!
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Tune in to The Comedy Awards on April 10!
 Comedy Central and MTV Networks recently announced The Comedy Awards, which will air on Comedy Central, Spike TV, CMT, LOGO, TV Land, VH1, and Nick at Night on April 10. In tandem, the networks have initiated The American Comedy Fund, the first-ever charitable fund dedicated exclusively to supporting the comedy community. Administered by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), The Actors Fund and Motion Picture & Television Fund will provide services. The Fund is proud to continue our tradition of providing much-needed social services, emergency assistance, health care, insurance, housing, and employment and training services for those comedic performers who qualify during times of need, crisis or transition.
And congrats to our Trustee Alec Baldwin, who is nominated for his hilarious work on 30 Rock! Visit www.thecomedyawards.com for all the nominees and the latest buzz, and tune in April 10!
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Watch Rock Hudson Speak About The Actors Fund
 A short clip featuring Rock Hudson speaking in support of The Actors Fund has recently surfaced on YouTube. Curious to learn more, we contacted Rock’s longtime publicist and friend—and Actors Fund Trustee—Dale Olson, who enlightened us:
The Sands Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City—interested in doing a benefit for The Fund—contacted our New York office in early 1984. Searching for a star to make a special appearance, The Fund called Olson, who in turn phoned Hudson.
As Olson had praised—and supported—The Fund for years, Hudson jumped at the chance to finally do his part. He had never been to Atlantic City, and to make things even sweeter, The Sands provided a helicopter to and from New York, where Hudson had an apartment.
The event took place on March 31, 1984, and was hosted and underwritten by Mr. and Mrs. William Weidner (Mr. Weidner was the President of the Sands).
Hudson was joined by Susan Saint James, Morgan Fairchild and Susan Lucci. He accepted The Sands’ $40,000 donation and spoke about The Fund, particularly mentioning one point especially important to Olson: The Fund helps everyone in the entertainment industry, not just actors. Hudson was persuaded by the showgirls to dance, so Olson arranged a photo, which appeared in Time magazine—with a shout out to The Fund.
The duo spent part of the next day exploring the city’s famous boardwalk, and Hudson signed a few autographs along the way. A success all around, this adventure turned out to be the first of several appearances Rock Hudson made for The Fund.
We are grateful to so many people in entertainment who have supported The Fund through the years, and continue to do so. Stay tuned for an announcement of our honorees for our 2011 Annual Gala on May 23!
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Who will you be sitting next to?
 You never know who you’ll be sitting next to in the audience at an Actors Fund event! Longtime Fund supporter Charles Durning recently stopped backstage to visit his friend Al Pacino after one of February’s four Merchant of Venice Producer’s Picks performances. Many thanks go to Mr. Pacino, producer Joey Parnes for the generous donation of Producer’s Picks tickets, and the rest of the Merchant team for their incredible generosity. Click here and reserve your seats for our upcoming benefit performances.
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Photocall:View pics from our recent events!
Spider-man Helps The Fund!
The producers of Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark generously donated tickets to the February 3 performance to help The Fund, and our guests celebrated the evening at a sold-out pre-show VIP cocktail party at Sardi’s. Spider-Man director Julie Taymor, producers Michael Cohl and Jere Harris, and stars Reeve Carney (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), T.V. Carpio (Arachne), Jennifer Damiano (Mary Jane) and Patrick Page (The Green Goblin) all stopped by, along with our volunteer “Broadway Docs,” who donate their services and see clients from our Al Hirschfeld Free Health Care Clinic. Go Spidey!
National Leadership Council - Lead On!
 Larry Chanen, Joe Kennedy, Howard Matz, and Trustee George Zuber hosted a small gathering on January 31 to launch the National Leadership Council (NLC), members of which will serve as ambassadors for The Actors Fund. Artists' Committee co-chair David Hyde Pierce (pictured with our co-hosts) and Dancers’ Resource participant Abbie Cooper were the event’s special guests, and they eloquently shared their enthusiasm for The Fund’s mission and programs. Thank you David, George, Larry, Joe, Howard and everyone on the NLC!
Driving Miss Daisy – A Very Special Performance
On February 7, the company of Driving Miss Daisy donated a truly unforgettable performance to The Fund. Dedicated to the memory of Trustee Lynn Redgrave and her brother Corin, Trustee Phyllis Newman began the event with a heartfelt tribute to them before the show. After the play—featuring stunning performances by Vanessa Redgrave, James Earl Jones and Boyd Gaines—playwright Alfred Uhry joined the actors on stage during the curtain call, and received enthusiastic cheers from the audience. An additional thank-you goes to company manager Bruce Klinger and the Box Office staff for their generous help. Click here and join us for Wicked on April 3 or Rain on March 27!
 Happy Birthday, Dolly!
A host of stars celebrated Broadway legend Carol Channing’s 90th Birthday on February 21 at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre. The sold-out evening benefits The Fund and the Dr. Carol Channing & Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts. Earlier this month, Ms. Channing took the time to answer a few questions for The Actors Fund Blog – click here and read what she had to say!
Kate Shindle at Feinstein’s
 On February 20, Kate Shindle made her Feinstein’s debut for a special one night only benefit for The Actors Fund. In an evening created with Musical Director Jason Howland, Kate brought down the house with her charismatic, commanding interpretations. Kate will star as the Mad Hatter in Wonderland, opening in April at the Marquis Theatre. “Break a leg” and thanks for a great evening, Kate!
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Mission: The Actors Fund is a nationwide human services organization