Screen Actors Guild Connects Soldiers With Home This Holiday Season

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD CONNECTS SOLDIERS WITH HOME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Los Angeles (November 22, 2010) — Screen Actors Guild, in partnership with Project: Hollywood Cares, announced today the "A Touch of Home From Hollywood" program supporting U.S. troops this holiday season.

The SAG National Board of Directors is urging all SAG members to support U.S. troops deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq this holiday season by making tax-deductible contributions to provide soldiers with global pre-paid calling cards to help them call home. In that spirit, many board members have already made personal contributions to support the effort. Through their generous donations, with the assistance of Project: Hollywood Cares, Screen Actors Guild members will ensure that American soldiers can connect with their loved ones throughout the holidays. A link can be found on the Guild’s website, SAG.org, through December 31.

Project: Hollywood Cares distributes the products of the entertainment industry to support and boost the morale of America's military personnel for their dedicated service. In addition to the calling cards, PHC will further connect U.S. troops with a "touch of home" when they receive the wonderful movie, television and music performances of SAG members in DVDs and CDs collections sent by Project: Hollywood Cares.

“Screen Actors Guild members have long supported the military by lending their talent and time on USO tours, site visits, hospital visits and assembling care packages,” said SAG President Ken Howard. “When it was brought to the National Board’s attention that some of our soldiers don't have the means to call home for the holidays, we found a way to help.”

“I began Project: Hollywood Cares almost six years ago to bring the joy and comfort of entertainment to our stressed soldiers and deserving veterans. We continue to ask for more service and sacrifice from them so I am extremely delighted to partner with Screen Actors Guild on this most-needed and worthy project,” said Tom Fick, founder of Project: Hollywood Cares.

To participate online, visit SAG.org and click on the “Touch of Home from Hollywood” icon on the homepage or visit the special "Touch of Home from Hollywood" web page at projecthollywoodcares.org and click the “donate” link. After entering your credit card or Pay Pal information, be sure to enter "A Gift from a Screen Actors Guild member" in the gift options message area. All donations are tax deductible under applicable law.

Donations can also be mailed with check payable to:
Project: Hollywood Cares Inc.
CBS Studio Center
Supply Station Bldg. 2nd Floor
4024 Radford St.
Studio City, CA 91604
Attn: "SAG calling cards"

Follow SAG Communications on Twitter (twitter.com/sagnews) and Facebook (facebook.com/screenactorsguild).

About SAG
Screen Actors Guild is the nation's largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940's to fighting for artists' rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 Branches nationwide, SAG represents more than 125,000 actors who work in film and digital motion pictures and television programs, commercials, video games, industrials, Internet and all new media formats. The Guild exists to enhance actors' working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists' rights. SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Headquartered in Los Angeles, you can visit SAG online at SAG.org.

About Project: Hollywood Cares
Project: Hollywood Cares is a  501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation supported by concerned citizens, veterans, volunteers and entertainment industry professionals. It's threefold mission is designed to boost morale, express gratitude and improve quality of life military issues while supporting America's service personnel presently tasked with multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan & Iraq,  help wounded soldiers rehabilitating in military hospitals and provide financial support & assistance to the surviving spouse and children of our fallen heroes killed in action. PHC's detailed command support program provides large entertainment libraries which include the four major products of Hollywood, (Emmy nominated television programs, feature films, music CDs and video games). The charity conducts a wide program of visits, outings, events and special projects in support of active duty personnel, military families and rehabilitating wounded soldiers.