5 Questions for…Jay Haddad

Jay Haddad - Actors Fund Major Gifts Associate

[Meet Jay, who is part of the fantastic team in our membership department at The Actors Fund. Jay helps hundreds of our members every month with personalized concierge service for access to the best seats in the house on Broadway. Become a member today!  Click here for more information on joining The Actors Fund, or contact Jay at 917.281.5970, or jhaddad@actorsfund.org.]

1) You’re recently a new father! Congratulations! How is that going for you?

Yes! It’s going great. Our little girl, Kallie has been keeping my wife and me very busy the last eight months! It’s a learning experience every day, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

2) How long have you been with The Actors Fund?

I have been with The Fund now for 6 years, as of this past November.

3) Tell us about your work for The Fund?  What do you do on a day-to-day basis?

My number one job here is helping our members. Getting them tickets, answering any questions they may have about their memberships, etc. Basically, taking good care of them since they’re the ones who take such good care of The Fund.

4) Why should people support The Fund?

I think it’s important to support those in need in general, but people in performing arts and entertainment give so many people so much joy – and The Fund offers a great opportunity for people to give back.

5) Who is your pick to win the 2011 World Series?

I would be remiss if I didn’t say the Yankees. But hope springs eternal deep in December!

Actors Fund Trustee Annette Bening, on Affordable Housing for Artists

[This article, by Annette Bening, appeared in our Fall 2010 issue of Marquee, The Newsletter of The Actors Fund. Ms. Bening recently joined The Actors Fund’s Board of Trustees. Click here to read this issue of Marquee, which outlines the full scope of The Fund’s supportive, affordable and senior housing initiatives.]

Annette Bening, The Actors Fund Trustee

 

Dear Friends,

Decent, affordable housing for working professionals, colleagues with special needs and seniors is essential. The Actors Fund is focused on building more opportunities for people who need housing. This issue of Marquee is devoted to all our housing programs and services, and I’d like to tell you why I want to help my colleagues in this way.

Working actors and others in show business need decent housing because earnings are low. Most people earn about $23,000 a year and have to live in urban areas with high costs of living. They also need access to good public transportation so they can get to and from auditions, evening performances and off-hour sessions and film shoots. Working in the arts, hours are seldom regular.

Also, seniors need a suitable place to retire for similar reasons.
Pensions are often modest, savings difficult to accumulate because
of the ups and downs of the business, and then there’s lifestyle —
it’s great to retire in a place with others who devoted their careers
to performing arts and entertainment.

A measure of our humanity is how we care for the ill among us.
We should be proud of how we help at our four residences — and
how the healthy and working join with the ill and disabled to build
community. The Actors Fund is devoted to caring for one another
and dedicated to collaborating with government, foundations,
individuals, unions and guilds, trade associations — everyone who
shares our commitment to supporting the Arts by helping the Artist.

Thank you for your support, and for your continued or future
support. Visit us online at actorsfund.org and make a tax-deductible
donation today.

Annette Bening, Trustee of The Actors Fund