Chemainus Theatre Festival Media Release
For Immediate Release

Chemainus Theatre Festival Patrons
Donate $15,000 to Actors' Fund of Canada

The Chemainus Theatre Festival is pleased to announce that its patrons have donated $15, 000 to the More Than Applause Campaign for the Actors' Fund of Canada, a non-profit organization that gives assistance to performers, creators, technicians and other members of creative and production teams in all entertainment industry sectors. The Chemainus Theatre Festival is overjoyed from the response from our patrons during this two-week fundraising campaign, and would like to thank the hundreds of people who so generously donated money to this cause, as well as the cast and crew for My Fair Lady, who spearheaded this campaign. As a not-for-profit organization, we know the importance of giving, and appreciate the support from our patrons and our sponsors.

David Hope, the Executive Director of the Actors' Fund of Canada had this to say of the donation: "We're immensely grateful to Pam Hyatt, the My Fair Lady company, the theatre management and, of course, Chemainus Theatre Festival audiences for their extraordinary generosity. Behind the scenes, theatre professionals often face a precarious livelihood. Entertainment workers are often self-employed - an injury, illness or sudden work stoppage can be economically devastating. The $15,000 that has been raised will be enough to help the Fund provide a month's worth of groceries for at least 30 artists and their families who would otherwise have nowhere else to turn."

The Actors' Fund of Canada is a registered charity that provides short-term financial aid to entertainment industry professionals working in theatre, film & TV, music or dance. Performers, creators, technical staff and other production team members can apply for help from the Fund which delivered over $400,000 in rent payments, grocery money, utility payments and other basic living expenses to clients in the last 12 months and over $3 million in the last 10 years.

The Actors' Fund receives no government funding and is wholly sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations.

The Chemainus Theatre Festival is a registered not for profit registered charity. For more information on The Actors' Fund of Canada, or to donate to the More Than Applause Campaign, please visit their website at www.actorsfund.ca.