Cousin of late Actors Fund Trustee Honey Waldman, Berit Pine; and Chair of the Waldman Foundation, Paul Libin, cut the ribbon for The Waldman Living Room. Photo: Jay Brady Photography.
The Actors Fund held a ribbon-cutting on May 18, 2018, to celebrate the opening of The Waldman Living Room, a new center in midtown Manhattan for entertainment and performing arts professionals aged 65 and older. The Waldman Living Room is designed to help combat social isolation and to provide services that will foster stability and resiliency, allowing this senior community to maintain independent living as they age.
Housed in The Actors Fund’s Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence on West 57th Street on New York City’s west side, The Waldman Living Room will centralize The Fund’s senior volunteer and activities programming. The new center was inspired by and created in honor and memory of former Fund trustee Honey Waldman and her sister, Gladys Brownstein Waldman. Made possible through the generous support of The Waldman Foundation, the center is a reflection of Ms. Waldman’s vision for enhancing the lives of older adults.
The Waldman Living Room provides a dedicated space for The Actors Fund’s services for seniors, and offers this rapidly expanding community a suite of social activities and volunteer opportunities, as well as free groups and workshops that address the practical concerns of aging in New York City.
“Honey loved our arts and entertainment community,” said Joe Benincasa, President and CEO of The Actors Fund. “Thanks to her legacy, we’re giving back much-needed support to these aging artists who gave their lives to enriching New York City’s world-class cultural vibrancy.”
Programming at The Waldman Living Room, such as regular movie screenings, writers groups, art therapy, theater and cultural outings, and holiday celebrations, has been carefully developed by The Actors Fund to combat social isolation. Ongoing free workshops are designed to foster stability and resiliency, allowing aging professionals to maintain their mental and physical health and to develop the skills and resources they need to remain in their homes as long as possible. In addition to support from The Waldman Foundation, programming is also supported by a grant from The New York Community Trust.
One offering at The Waldman Living Room is the monthly workshop “Living Your Best Life After 60,” a meet-up designed to help older adults learn more about services that can benefit them as they age. Led by a professional social worker from The Actors Fund and special guest experts, topics include living on a “fixed” income, legal issues such as wills, power of attorney and health proxy, affordable housing, home health care, and maintaining physical and mental health.
Located on the fourth floor of The Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence, an affordable housing facility that provides supportive housing to special low-income groups including seniors, working professionals, and people living with HIV/AIDS, The Waldman Living Room offers over 1,200 square feet of light-filled community space for social activities and ongoing workshops. The center also offers on-site social services, Wi-Fi, computer access and an outdoor roof deck for community gardening.
To learn more about The Actors Fund’s programs for seniors in performing arts and entertainment, visit www.actorsfund.org/SeniorCare.
The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org.
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