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Rick Miramontez / Kendall Edwards / Bailey Everett
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The Fund Media Contact:
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thefundDKC@DKCnews.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

2025 IN REVIEW:
ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND
REFLECTS ON
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WORK OF THE YEAR

Highlighting a year of supporting the performing arts and entertainment community to overcome obstacles and sustain their lives in the arts
The company of Romeo + Juliet, including Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, before an Entertainment Community Fund “Producer’s Picks” performance, where a block of tickets is donated to benefit the Fund. The proceeds from these tickets go to support the Fund’s services and programs. Photo credit: Tricia Baron

View more photos and video from this year at ECF here.

New York, New York (December 16, 2025) – As 2025 comes to a close, the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), the national human services organization that serves the unique needs of performing arts and entertainment professionals, reflects on a year of impactful achievements and initiatives that help provide support to individuals working in the industry, especially in the face of an increasingly challenging landscape.

“This year, we’ve seen an increased demand for the Fund’s services as unexpected challenges affecting the performing arts and entertainment community continue to arise. We’re deeply grateful for the steadfast support from donors, colleagues and all those whose dedication to the Fund allows us to be a safety net for the people in need in our industry,” said Annette Bening, Chair of the Board of the Entertainment Community Fund.

Following the devastating wildfires in Southern California in January, the Fund provided emergency financial assistance for those who lost their homes, sustained property damage or faced extended evacuation. In addition to direct aid, the Fund established dedicated support groups for people impacted by the fires needing guidance in managing debt after a disaster, understanding disaster unemployment, navigating FEMA and SBA applications, coming together to share experiences and grief, and more.

The Fund’s Annual Gala in April raised $1.6 million to support its programs and services. The event celebrated Denzel Washington, Tony and Academy Award-winning actor, producer and director; Ariana DeBose, Academy Award-winning actor, dancer and singer; and James L. Nederlander, theater owner and producer, as they received the Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor.

Bening and the Fund’s Board of Trustees welcomed seven new appointees in 2025. Bringing a firsthand understanding of the joys and difficulties of pursuing a life in the arts, the expertise and leadership from Kristin Caskey, John F. Breglio, Ariana DeBose, Robert Greenblatt, Greg Nobile, Wendy Orshan and Michael Shur are helping advance the Fund’s mission and strengthening its service to the entertainment community.

In July, the Fund, along with Tony Award-winning producers Christopher Ketner and Hunter Regian produced the one-night-only A Chorus Line Official 50^th Anniversary Celebration. The concert, which took place at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre, featured performances and appearances by original 1975 Broadway cast members Scott Allen, Kelly Bishop, Wayne Cilento, Baayork Lee, Priscilla Lopez and Donna McKechnie. All proceeds from the event benefited the Fund’s programs serving dance professionals.

In its continued commitment to the professional development of performing arts and entertainment workers, the Fund launched The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Creative Entrepreneur Program. Supported by The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation, this initiative offers courses and resources to help industry professionals build a strong foundation to explore, launch and sustain entrepreneurial ventures. Additionally, the Fund awarded the 2025 Alex Dubé Scholarship to five recipients. Through the Alex Dubé Scholarship Program, Career Transition For Dancers (a program of the Entertainment Community Fund) supports the education of dancers to build their next professional platforms. These one-time awards of up to $10,000 per recipient are distributed annually to dancers enrolled in accredited graduate degree programs to assist in tuition payment.

In recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September, the Fund dedicated an exam room at The Samuel J. Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts to the Feldshuh Fund for Women’s Health. Created by Tovah Feldshuh in celebration of her 50-year career on Broadway, the Feldshuh Fund is dedicated to educating women in the industry about early detection of ovarian and reproductive cancers and can help uninsured women who work in entertainment access gynecological services at The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts.

Producers of several Broadway shows donated blocks of tickets for Producer’s Picks, a program in which producers donate tickets to the Fund so that ticket buyers’ entire purchase goes to benefit the Entertainment Community Fund. Participating shows in 2025 included A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, John Proctor is the Villain, The Last Five Years, Left on Tenth, Mamma Mia!, Maybe Happy Ending, Oedipus, Oh Mary!, Operation Mincemeat, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Purpose, Redwood, Romeo + Juliet, SMASH, Some Like It Hot (National tour), Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Sunset Blvd. and Waiting for Godot.

“We know that our community will be facing challenges in the New Year,” noted Fund President and CEO Joe Benincasa. “But as always, the Fund will be here to provide support, guidance and assistance to those who come to us in need. Please enjoy this video from actor and Fund supporter Tovah Feldshuh, who expresses gratitude and wishes for a safe and healthy 2026 from all of us at the Fund.”

To learn more about the Entertainment Community Fund, visit entertainmentcommunity.org.

ABOUT 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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