A-List SAG-AFTRA Members Donate One Million Dollars to the Foundation
The SAG-AFTRA strike has now gone on for a few weeks, almost a month. At this rate, it does not look like the strike will be stopping anytime soon. The people within the union want to stand up for their rights and for better pay. However, during this time, they can not work, that means that there are many actors out there who are losing out on the opportunities to make money. Luckily, some of the top-earning actors have decided to lend them a hand. Many rich and successful actors have donated 1 million dollars respectively, to help the striking actors stand strong.
Where is the Money Going?
The donated money goes into the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization designed to help SAG-AFTRA members with its resources. The donations to the Foundation go towards helping struggling actors during these times. According to their website, “The Foundation understands that artists live in a rapidly changing world, and it’s imperative that our actors, voiceover artists, broadcasters, dancers, and other artists understand the evolving industry landscape, are provided the tools necessary to navigate these changes successfully, and are given the opportunity to hone their craft as they continue through their careers.”
Specifically, the money donated is going into the Emergency Assistance Fund. This fund helps give struggling union members financial relief. This struggle can be a life crisis, illness, or, in this case, no work due to striking. Because of the strike, more people are applying for emergency assistance than ever before. That is making it harder for the Foundation to help. This is the reason why all donations are important at this time. In this case, the big SAG-AFTRA members bring attention to the cause.
Which Big SAG-AFTRA Members Donated?
A large number of famous people have given large donations to the Foundation. These people include George and Amal Clooney, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez and Matt Damon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson. It is very possible that this generosity could continue, with even more big-name donations. These are all high-earning actors, and they believe it is now their turn to stand up for the people who need help.
What Do the SAG-AFTRA Members Have to Say?
These prominent actors have been more than happy to help, and they are not afraid to say it. Streep commented that she is “lucky to be able to support those who will struggle in a long action to sustain against Goliath.” She continued by saying, “We will stand strong together against these powerful corporations who are bent on taking the humanity, the human dignity, even the human out of our profession.” Clooney stated, “We stand ready to get back to the table and make a fair deal with the AMPTP. Until then, I’m proud to be able to support the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and my fellow actors who may be struggling in this historic moment. We’ve stood on the shoulders of the likes of Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney and it’s time for our generation to give something back,”
The Importance of Giving Back
Foundation president Courtney B. Vance gave a lot of gratitude to these donors. He wrote, “For more than 38 years, the Foundation has been a safety net for our community during its most challenging times. Thank you to these @sagaftra actors for their incredible donations to our Emergency Financial Assistance Program.” It is donations like these that allow strikers to know that they are doing a great thing. It is unclear when the strike will end. However, the celebrities and their donations are helping the ride.
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