SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance announced Wednesday that the nonprofit organization has raised more than $15 million for its emergency financial assistance program, thanks in large part to contributions from more than a dozen of Hollywoodâs top-earning stars whoâve donated $1 million or more.
âThe entertainment industry is in crisis and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is currently processing more than 30 times our usual number of applications for emergency aid. We received 400 applications in the last week alone,â Vance said in a statement about the fundraising efforts over the last three weeks. âItâs a massive challenge, but weâre determined to meet this moment.â
But Johnson is not alone. More than a dozen A-listers have also answered the call, each donating $1 million or more, including George and Amal Clooney; Luciana and Matt Damon; Leonardo DiCaprio; Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness; Nicole Kidman; Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck; Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively; Julia Roberts; Arnold Schwarzenegger; Meryl Streep; and Oprah Winfrey.
âI appealed to our community to remember how tough it was coming up, and the response to help their fellow performers has been incredible, immediate and heartwarming,â Vance said of their contributions, acknowledging Johnson, who âhelped kick-start this campaign.â
He then saluted Streep and Clooney, both longtime champions of the foundation and members of its Actorsâ Council, who âstepped up with $1 million donations, emails and many calls-to-action rallying others to give generously.â
Thanks to the groupâs combined efforts, Vance concluded, âWeâve crushed our initial goal because our people are coming together, but we still arenât done. Our fundraising will continue in order to meet the overwhelming needs of our community now and in the future.â
Streep and Clooney also shared statements about the urgent need working actors face amid the historic double strike.
âI remember my days as a waiter, cleaner, typist, even my time on the unemployment line,â Streep said, explaining her desire to give back. âIn this strike action, I am lucky to be able to support those who will struggle in a long action to sustain against Goliath. We will stand strong together against these powerful corporations who are bent on taking the humanity, the human dignity, even the human out of our profession. I am proudest of my fellow actors who have immediately offered to fund the Emergency Financial Assistance Program.â
Clooney, who released a statement expressing his solidarity with the union when the strike was called on July 13, added: âWe stand ready to get back to the table and make a fair deal with the AMPTP. Until then, Iâm proud to be able to support the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and my fellow actors who may be struggling in this historic moment. Weâve stood on the shoulders of the likes of Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney and itâs time for our generation to give something back.â
He continued: âI canât thank Courtney enough for his determination in putting this effort together by shedding light on the human toll happening right now, and how we can work together to alleviate some of the pain and suffering.â
News of the combined eight-figure donation comes as SAG-AFTRA actors hit the picket lines for a third week, while WGA writers have been on strike for more than 90 days. Notably, on the day SAG-AFTRA declared the strike, Damon was making the international press rounds with Christopher Nolanâs âOppenheimerâ; the cast walked out of the London premiere in solidarity.