GUILD TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE KATRINA

LOS ANGELES (September 1, 2005) --- In response to Screen Actors Guild members looking to support those devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the Guild—with help from the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, The Actors’ Fund of America and the Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund—today announced it has taken steps to provide immediate assistance for union members in need.

The SAG Foundation, Actors’ Fund and MPPWF are all providing limited financial assistance, while the Foundation is also coordinating housing assistance via its www.sagfoundation.org Web site. The Red Cross is accepting clothing donations as well. The Guild has hundreds of members who live in Mississippi and Louisiana, along with members in Florida, which was impacted by Katrina during the hurricane’s early stages.

“On behalf of every single professional performer in the Guild, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been personally impacted by this tragedy, especially the hundreds of SAG members who live in the effected areas,” Screen Actors Guild President Melissa Gilbert said. “No matter what it is, there is something we can all do to help—no donation or gesture is too small. And if you are a member of the Guild who is a victim of this tragedy, or if you know someone who is, I urge you to get in touch with us. Let us help.”

For Financial Assistance: MPPWF (305) 670-7677
(Miami SAG office is administering this fund)

Actors’ Fund of America (800) 221-7303

SAG Foundation (323) 549-6708

For Donations: Please send monetary donations to:
c/o Screen Actors Guild
7300 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 620
Miami, FL 33156 Please make donations payable to the Actors Fund of America, MPPWF or the SAG Foundation.

For Housing Assistance:

If you are able to offer housing possibilities for SAG members and their families who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, please go to the SAG Foundation Web site at www.sagfoundation.org and access the Housing Bulletin Board. From there please follow the instructions and post your offer.

For Clothing Donations:
The Red Cross recommends you donate to your local community organizations. Those community-based organizations that respond everyday within your community will need to support both local needs as well as support what their respective national agencies requirements are.