New York, NY (May 5, 2023) – The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, hosted its Annual Gala on Monday, May 1, 2023 in New York City. The evening, which marked the Fund’s inaugural gala under its new name, raised $1.2 million in support of its programs and services and celebrated distinguished philanthropist Glorya Kaufman; Head of Orion Pictures, film executive and producer Alana Mayo; Tony and Olivier Award-winning producer, activist and President of Tom Kirdahy Productions Tom Kirdahy; and actor, director, screenwriter, producer, playwright, author, philanthropist and Founder of Tyler Perry Studios Tyler Perry as they received the Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor.
Stars on hand to celebrate the occasion included Chair of the Entertainment Community Fund Brian Stokes Mitchell, Joshua Boone, Susan Stroman, Emma Seligman, Nathan Lane, Gaten Matarazzo, Arian Moayed, Robert Creighton and many more.
Performances at the gala included Adrianna Hicks, accompanied by Marc Shaiman, performing “A Darker Shade of Blue” from Some Like It Hot; Lil Buck, performing “The Swan”; Solea Pfeiffer, performing “Paper Airplanes” from Tyler Perry’s A Jazzman’s Blues; and Colton Ryan, performing from “All the Children in a Row” from The Rink.
To download photos from the event, click here.
To watch video from the event, click here.
For photos of the honorees, click here.
“Thank you to everyone who joined us in honor of Glorya, Alana, Tom and Tyler, to recognize the contributions they make to this industry we’re so proud to be a part of. We’re grateful for the dedication of all who made our 2023 Gala such a success, and look forward to another year ahead of supporting a life in the arts” shared Fund President and CEO Joe Benincasa.
The Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor was inaugurated on May 9, 1910 when it was first presented to President William Howard Taft. The award was revived in 1958, and since 1992, when Shubert Organization President Bernard B. Jacobs was recognized, the award has been presented at an annual fundraising gala. Since then, dozens of leaders have been recognized with this high honor given to individuals and organizations that enrich the entertainment community. To view past honorees, visit entertainmentcommunity.org/leadership.
ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND
The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, is a national human services organization that addresses the unique needs of people who work in performing arts and entertainment with services focused on health and wellness, career and life, and housing. Since 1882, the Fund has sought to ensure stability, encourage resiliency and be a safety net for those who shape our country’s cultural vibrancy. Learn more at entertainmentcommunity.org.
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