The SAG-AFTRA Foundation has announced pledges totaling more than $15 million for its Emergency Financial Assistance Program to assist film and television industry workers during the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes. In addition, the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly the Actors Fund) has announced a $1 million gift from creator, writer, and producer Seth MacFarlane.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation has received gifts of at least $1 million from George and Amal Clooney, Luciana and Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Deborah-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey.

The Entertainment Community Fund provides emergency financial assistance to cover basic living expenses, such as rent, groceries, health insurance, and medical bills, as well as mental health support. Since May, it has raised more than $6.3 million from more than 7,500 donors, and as of the end of July, had provided more than $2.7 million to more than 1,500 people. Due to the current strikes, the fund has been distributing approximately $400,000 to $500,000 per week (compared to an average of $75,000 per week in the first half of 2023).

Additional notable donors to the Entertainment Community Fund include the Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation; Stacey Abrams; Entertainment Community Fund chairperson Annette Bening; Tom Bergeron; Greg Berlanti; Rachel Bloom; Rosanne Cash in memory of her father, Johnny Cash; Suzanne Collins and Cap Pryor; Vince Gilligan; Lynn Nottage; Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley; Shonda Rhimes; and Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw. 

“The Entertainment Community Fund is overcome with gratitude to the prominent leaders in our community who have donated in support of film and television workers in need,” said Bening. “Each day, the calls for help increase; these gifts will immediately assist so many in our industry who are still struggling to recover after the pandemic. We also hope that these impactful gifts will inspire others, if they can, to donate to support our crucial work.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/dsabo)