Whilst you might not see them on the picket line, A-listers are opening up their pocketbooks to assist their union throughout the strike. In a press launch, SAG-AFTRA Basis president Courtney B. Vance introduced Wednesday {that a} handful of megastars together with Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and George and Amal Clooney have made not less than $1 million donations to SAG-AFTRA’s Emergency Monetary Help Program, serving to this system amass over $15 million prior to now three weeks.
An impartial charity established in 1985, SAG-AFTRA’s Emergency Monetary Help Program supplies as much as $1,500 grants to union members in want and as much as $6,000 to lifetime members who’ve well being points or are in “severe jeopardy.” The grants are issued to assist actors affected by the work stoppage with fundamental residing bills together with as lease, mortgage, utilities, groceries, and medical bills. Final month, Dwayne Johnson donated seven figures to this system—the most important single donation in this system’s historical past—when Vance put out a name to the highest earners in SAG to assist financially assist their fellow union members.
Different A-list stars who be part of Johnson, Streep, DiCaprio, and the Clooneys within the million-or-more donation membership embody Julia Roberts, Matt and Luciana Damon, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Vigorous, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Oprah Winfrey. Earlier this week, Household Man creator Seth MacFarlane donated $1 million to a different program, the Leisure Group Fund, as properly.
Within the press launch, Vance thanked Johnson for serving to “kick-start this marketing campaign” and likewise name-checked two Oscar winners particularly—Streep and George Clooney—for his or her donations, their longtime assist of the SAG-AFTRA Basis, their positions as leaders on the Actors Council, and their dedication to encourage others to provide generously.
“I bear in mind my days as a waiter, cleaner, typist, even my time on the unemployment line,” stated Streep within the press launch. “On this strike motion, I’m fortunate to have the ability to assist those that will wrestle in an extended motion to maintain towards Goliath. We are going to stand sturdy collectively towards these highly effective companies who’re bent on taking the humanity, the human dignity, even the human out of our occupation. I’m proudest of my fellow actors who’ve instantly provided to fund the Emergency Monetary Help Program.”
Clooney provided an announcement of assist for SAG-AFTRA as properly: “We stand able to get again to the desk and make a good take care of the AMPTP. Till then, I’m proud to have the ability to assist the SAG-AFTRA Basis and my fellow actors who could also be struggling on this historic second. We’ve stood on the shoulders of the likes of Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney and it’s time for our technology to provide one thing again. I can’t thank Courtney sufficient for his dedication in placing this effort collectively by shedding gentle on the human toll occurring proper now, and the way we are able to work collectively to alleviate among the ache and struggling.”
Though the SAG-AFTRA Basis has surpassed its preliminary purpose, Vance says they’re nonetheless actively fundraising to assist union members throughout this tough. “Our fundraising will proceed in an effort to meet the overwhelming wants of our neighborhood now and sooner or later,” stated Vance. That should be excellent news to rank-and-file union members—notably on the heels of SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher declaring that they’re ready for the strike to final one other six months.
