28-Feb-2010
Arts Work Foundation Update
Los Angeles -- On advice of our genius friends at Editorial Emergency, I’d like to take the time to give you an update of what’s been going on here at Arts Work Foundation.
2009 saw the germ of an idea sprout into a full-blown public charity over the course of several months, and I’ve learned some important things along the way.
First, it’s pretty hard to stop a good idea. I know that as political debates rage on, it’s debatable as to what constitutes a good idea. But virtually everyone I’ve given the pitch (i.e., anyone who stood still for a minute and a half) agrees we’re onto something. The arts industry throwing a bake sale to fund arts education programs time has come.
Second, you never know who you know till you start asking. The number and variety of friends and casual acquaintances that have rolled up their shirt sleeves and pitched in (all without being asked, I should add) is astounding. Folks who provide valuable services for a living assisted us with our legal, organizational, and promotional needs gratis. My neighbor, a film industry professional, has taken the first seat on our advisory board. The little sister of a girl I dated as a teenager is a non-profit professional and an invaluable help in sourcing funds for our pilot programs. I cannot thank them all enough.
Finally, there are a lot of big hearts in Hollywood. I’ve spent virtually every morning since last October on the phone and email with the top publicists in the business. They have been instrumental in hooking us up with some very giving stars for our PSA. We’re getting closer to the finish line with our three-minute opus, and here’s a list of who have given us their vote of support with an appearance:
| Edward James Olmos |
LeVar Burton |
| Hattie Winston |
Corbin Bernsen |
| Susan Ruttan |
Richard Schiff |
| Dule Hill |
Emmanuelle Chriqui |
| Jeremy Ray Valdez |
Andy Buckley |
| J.K. Simmons |
Harold Wheeler |
| Rex Lee |
John Schneider |
And there are more to come.
As we’ve been developing our pilot programs, we’ve been keeping busy, offering audio services to other non-profits and working out details on some community music programs, just to keep us busy while the big deal simmers.
Speaking of the big deal, we’ll be unveiling our first film project in the very near future, so stay tuned.
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