SAG-AFTRA Members Help Change Lives

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Back row, from left, SAG-AFTRA member volunteers Serafin Falcon, Danette Wilson, Jameel Saleem, Bryan Dechart, Tori Taranova. Front row, from left, Christina Piazza, Lila Waters, Yvette Nicole Brown, Carla Renata. Photo by Ben Cowitt.

In an outpouring that embodies the true spirit of “taking care of our own,” more than 70 volunteers from the entertainment community, many from SAG-AFTRA, came together June 25 to improve the safety and upgrade the home of Lilah, an 84-year-old SAG-AFTRA member.  

Keeping seniors living at home longer, more comfortably and independently is the core mission of the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Home Safe Home program, which provides free home safety evaluations and free or low-cost modifications for homes. Home Safe Home doesn’t address only physical safety issues; it can help older adults improve their quality of life through more independence, socialization and an improved psychological outlook.

“The very first project I organized by myself made me realize how much we change lives,” stated Kym Hall, project coordinator, who established the Home Safe Home project. “We walked into an elderly gentleman’s house and the floor caved in. By the time we were done, his house was a home again.”

The program began in 2006 with less than a half-dozen assessments conducted annually. That number has grown to 200 per year and Home Safe Home recently reached a significant milestone with the completion of its 1,000th home assessment. The success of the program would not be possible without the hard work and caring hearts of volunteers from the entertainment community who show up to lend a hand, volunteers like SAG-AFTRA member Yvette Nicole Brown.

"MPTF has been sowing good seeds into the lives of entertainment industry members for 95 years now,” said Brown while working on the renovation project in June. “They believe in showing up and giving back when and where it’s needed. I’m honored to be one of those lending a hand.”

For more information about Home Safe Home and volunteer opportunities, visit MPTF’s website or call (323) 634-3866.

This item was originally featured in the September 2016 local newsletter.