Writer and producer Seth MacFarlane is donating $5 million to a fund that supports entertainment industry workers impacted by Hollywood’s dual strikes, it was announced on Thursday, Sept. 21.
The Entertainment Community Fund is looking to raise another $10 million to support the workers, and MacFarlane kicked off the effort with a $5 million donation — on top of the $1 million he donated in July.
“There aren’t enough words to express our tremendous gratitude to Seth as he continues to help those in need, all while inspiring others with this call to action to do the same,” Annette Bening, chair of the Entertainment Community Fund board, said in a statement.
“At this rate, we’ll need at least $10 million to continue helping people in the coming weeks. Seth’s gift is an incredible contribution to help us be able to do that, and we hope others join in as well.”
McFarlane is the creator and star of the television series “Family Guy” and “The Orville.”
The Fund is helping entertainment industry professionals in need with emergency financial assistance to cover basic living expenses, mental health support and more, according to the organization.
“We are eternally grateful to Seth for this extremely generous donation,” said Joe Benincasa, Entertainment Community Fund president and CEO.
“We know that there will be long-term ramifications of the work stoppage that will continue to impact people’s lives and well-being for months to come, and this transformative gift will allow us to continue to answer the influx of requests for help we get each day.”
According to the Fund, it has raised over $10.1 million from more than 10,800 donors to support film and television workers.
Steven Spielberg and wife Kate Capshaw previously donated $1.5 million to be dispersed between the Fund and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program.
Additional notable donors include Bening, Greg Berlanti, Nancy and Steve Carrell, Vince Gilligan and Shonda Rhimes.
Writers, who went on strike May 2, were joined on the picket line in July by the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union.
The Fund’s emergency financial assistance application, services and programs are all free, confidential and accessible online, and can be found at entertainmentcommunity.org/workstoppage2023.
