Rebecca J. Michelson
Honoring Sonia Friedman CBE, Seth MacFarlane and Warner Bros. Television Group
New York, NY (April 18, 2024) – The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, has released additional photos and video from their Annual Gala on Monday, April 8, 2024 in New York City, which raised more than $1.2 million. The evening celebrated Sonia Friedman CBE, Olivier and Tony Award-winning producer; Seth MacFarlane, Founder, Fuzzy Door and Award-winning writer, actor, director, producer and singer; and Warner Bros. Television Group, Emmy-winning producer of scripted, unscripted and animated programming, as they received the Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor.
Stars on hand to celebrate the occasion included Entertainment Community Fund Chair of the Board Annette Bening and Chair of the Leadership Council Brian Stokes Mitchell, as well as Kelsey Anderson, Eric Bauza, Michael Evans Behling, Kola Bokinni, Bugs Bunny, Holly Ann Butler, John Cardoza, Corey Cott, Stephen Daldry, Daffy Duck, Cristo Fernández, Drew Gehling, Liz Gillies, Joey Graziadei, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Bonita Hamilton, Shanola Hampton, Brian d’Arcy James, Chris Keyser, Tom Kirdahy, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, McKenzie Kurtz, Camryn Manheim, Julia Mattison, Allyson Tucker Mitchell, Greta Onieogou, Kate Shindle, Dennis Stowe, L. Steven Taylor, Ryan Vasquez, Joy Woods and Chip Zien.
Performances at the gala included Hannah Cruz and Hawley Gould performing “Show Them Who You Are” from Suffs, Maria Friedman performing “Broadway Baby”, Cassadee Pope performing “Wasting All These Tears”, Liz Gillies performing “I’ve Got the World on a String” and Ryan Vasquez performing “Leave the Light On” from The Notebook: The Musical.
To download photos from the event, click here.
To watch video from the event, click here.
As previously shared, the Fund also announced a $160 million ESSENTIAL Campaign at the gala: a bold and comprehensive effort that will combine all of the organization’s fundraising, allowing the Fund to serve more people in more places. The campaign will support expanding and sustaining Fund services; grow the Emergency Relief Reserve Fund to allow the Fund to respond immediately to the next crisis that will impact the entertainment community; and support mission-critical capital projects. Learn more at entertainmentcommunity.org/ESSENTIAL.
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.