Dearest SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Members:
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today to send my thoughts and prayers to all our union brothers and sisters who have been affected by the wildfires burning across California, especially those who have lost so much. Profound thanks are owed to all the firefighters and first responders who, in the face of danger to themselves, continue to rush in to save the lives of our community.
A California native myself, I fully empathize with the fear and grief we’re collectively feeling, and I know that the only way we will overcome such distress is through unity and compassion. What impacted SAG-AFTRA members need to persevere through such troubling times is the support and the strength generated by leadership and sister organizations rallying together. Breaking through the devastation reported on the news daily are heartening stories of families and animals saved by the helping hands of strangers and volunteers.
For members of our Los Angeles Local constituency who have been affected, please know there are resources available that are specially meant to help support you in this time of hardship.
The SAG-AFTRA Motion Picture & Television Fund offers financial assistance, support services and community resources from experienced staff who understand the unique needs of entertainment industry professionals. Currently, they are offering assistance programming specifically to victims of the Southern California fires. If you have been affected, please call (323) 634-3888.
Additionally, The SAG-AFTRA Foundation and the SAG-AFTRA Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund have a Disaster Relief Fund to provide urgent financial support to SAG-AFTRA members and families impacted by the wildfires. These organizations have collaborated with The Actors Fund to administer the relief efforts on the ground, ensuring all SAG-AFTRA members receive the help they need. If you have been impacted by the Woolsey wildfires, please fill out the application for assistance at actorsfund.org/gethelp, where you can find other resources also available to you. For questions, please contact The Actors Fund’s Los Angeles office at (323) 933-9244, ext. 455 or intakela@actorsfund.org.
In times like these, we need to be able to rely on each other. I humbly ask those of you who can to lend your support by donating to the SAG-AFTRA Disaster Relief Fund or the Motion Picture Television Fund. Every dollar helps! Remember that we are not just SAG-AFTRA members, we are family, and in the case that any one of us needs help, the rest are here for you.
In solidarity,
Jane Austin
SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local President and Secretary Treasurer
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