The Love that Keeps on Giving

The Chicago Local Betty Mitchell Fund Committee is proud to announce that the late Julie Codlin has bequeathed $30,000 to the Betty Mitchell Fund. Codlin, a longtime SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local member, passed away this year on Feb. 28. Codlin’s career flourished in the ’70s and ’80s in TV and radio commercials, print and Unshackled radio, and she was a weekly CRIS Radio volunteer, reading for the print impaired. Thank you, Julie!

The Betty Mitchell Sick & Benefit Fund is exclusive to the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local, benefiting members in dire need.

Back in the days when Chicago was “King of the Radio Soaps,” long before the union had health and retirement plans, if a member had an emergency or became ill, they were on their own. The AFRA board (there was not yet a “T” for television) formed a Sick and Benefit Fund to be financed through donations and sustained with safe investments. 

At about this time, there was an employee in the membership department who was the soul of kindness and generosity. Whenever a member couldn’t pay their dues or needed grocery money, she’d open her purse, give what she could — and, often, what she couldn’t — and she’d say, “That’s alright, dearie, pay me when you can.” Some did and some didn’t. It was also known that if she saw a homeless person sleeping on the street, she’d pin a dollar and a note on their pocket that read, “Please buy something to eat, dearie. God bless.” Her heart was much bigger than her salary.

At the membership meeting two weeks following her death in 1958, the entire membership present voted to rename the fund in her honor. Her name was Betty Mitchell. Thanks, Betty!

To this day, any SAG-AFTRA Chicago member in dire need may request an application for aid and be assured of confidentiality and a helping hand. 

Any SAG-AFTRA member residing in the area covered by the Chicago Local (that is Illinois, Indiana,
Wisconsin and the eastern part of Iowa) that needs financial help, please call (312) 573-8081 to find out how to apply for a grant from the fund.

Your support is appreciated. Please call (312) 573-8081 to make a donation to the Betty Mitchell Sick & Benefit Fund.

Photo: Julie Codlin, courtesy of the Codlin Estate