EIF SNAPSHOT – NOVEMBER 2021 |
FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO |
Dear Friends,
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As we enter a season of gratitude and reflection, I am deeply thankful for the numerous ways our community has “stepped up” to help those in need. Our industry has supported, encouraged, and challenged the world to meet suffering and injustice head-on like never before. Giving voice to the voiceless reminds us all of the importance of compassion and kindness. The united front is bringing about social change that will help ensure a more just world for generations to come!
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EIF’s philanthropic partners have tackled tough issues ranging from vaccine equity to social justice, mental wellness, diversity, and inclusion. Many of these issues have long been in our consciousness, but the pandemic introduced a heightened urgency to address inequity at the root. We have been inspired by each of our partners and are deeply grateful to be in service to their efforts, both here and around the world.
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In addition to individual efforts, the community has continued to invest in EIF’s collaborative initiatives. Thanks to you, Defy:Disaster has grown to become the industry’s preeminent disaster relief program. The message of Delivering Jobs is being embraced as more companies recognize that neurodiverse job candidates are an asset to their businesses. Stand Up to Cancer’s focus on diversity has resulted in enormous gains in clinical trials. And the EIF Careers Program is expanding to include additional candidates and employment opportunities that will result in a more diverse entertainment community.
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Your generosity and steadfast support allow us to address pressing needs and provide relief to those who need it most. On behalf of the entire team, thank you.
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-Nicole Sexton |
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Let's Not Dis Our Ability |
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT |
DELIVERING JOBS |
An inclusion campaign dedicated to creating pathways to one million employment and leadership opportunities for people with autism, intellectual and/or developmental differences by 2025, Delivering Jobs recently launched its third nationwide billboard campaign.
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Created by Bernie Hogya and Ron Wachino, who are widely known and celebrated for their iconic Milk Mustache ads, the PSA’s slogan, “Let’s not dis our ability,” is a rallying cry for employers to recognize those with neurodifferences not only as qualified candidates for employment but as an ASSET to the workplace. Said Hogya and Wachino, “Companies have made significant strides in some areas of inclusion, but people with neurodifferences have been left out of the conversation. With this PSA, we highlight the abilities of people with neurodifferences and their contributions to a better overall workforce.” |
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HOW TO SUPPORT DELIVERING JOBS |
Please consider donating $1 to help us provide more employment and leadership development resources to employers to foster inclusive workplaces and support employees with autism, intellectual and/or developmental differences.
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Promising a Brighter Future for Families Affected by Childhood Cancer |
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PHILANTHROPIC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT |
OSCAR'S KIDS |
Oscar’s Kids is dedicated to defeating pediatric cancer and giving families support, care, and uplifting “magic” through the legacy of Oscar Keogh, a boy from Ireland who passed away in 2019 at age five from DIPG, an aggressive form of pediatric cancer.
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Founded by actor, writer, and producer Melissa Rauch, her husband Winston Rauch, and Oscar’s parents Yavanna and Lar Keogh, Oscar’s Kids funds DIPG research with the goal of finding a cure for the disease.
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Oscar befriended Melissa while on his cancer journey. Yav and Lar, seeking to provide their son with as much joy as humanly possible, reached out to Melissa on social media to ask for an autograph for their son, a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory. That request sparked a lasting and meaningful friendship between the two families. After Oscar’s devastating passing from DIPG, Melissa was so inspired by his life that she decided to start the charity named in his honor by joining forces with Oscar’s parents to create a transatlantic childhood cancer charity (Oscar’s Kids U.S. and Oscar’s Kids Ireland).
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Oscar’s life was tragically cut short, but Oscar’s Kids ensures that his impact on the world will endure, and with it, the promise of a brighter future for all families affected by childhood cancer. |
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OSCAR'S KIDS PJ PARTY |
On Friday, November 5th from 7-8PM ET, Oscar’s Kids will join forces with Denise Albert of THE MOMS and multiple celebrity guests to create the charity’s first ever “Oscar’s Kids PJ Party” presented by I Love Ice Cream Cakes. The one-hour event will gather top influencers in the mom space for a conversation featuring Melissa Rauch, as well as virtual performances by magicians Penn & Teller and musician Kate Micucci, and a special I Love Ice Cream Cakes #CakeFlipForACause challenge.
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HOW TO SUPPORT:
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- Post a photo of yourself in your favorite PJs, either solo or with those you love with the #OscarsKidsPJParty
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- Join Melissa and post a video of yourself doing a cake flip challenge with the #CakeFlipForACause
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- Visit https://www.oscarskids.org to learn more and contribute a donation
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- Donate at https://letsengage.com/OscarsKids to enter The Ultimate Sweet Treat Vacation Presented by I Love Ice Cream Cakes (for the chance to win a dream trip to Maui!)
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- Text OSCAR to 50555 to contribute a $10 donation |
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CHARLIZE THERON AFRICA OUTREACH PROJECT PARTNERS WITH THE FORD FOUNDATION TO FURTHER GLOBAL VACCINE ACCESS |
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PHILANTHROPIC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT |
CHARLIZE THERON AFRICA OUTREACH PROJECT |
Leading into the G20 Summit, the Ford Foundation announced a special initiative to further global vaccine access and tackle the structural inequities that continue to hinder equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in the Global South.
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Ford’s wide range of commitments includes coalition building with the world’s leading foundations, a coordinated advocacy campaign to combat vaccine hesitancy with the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, and $16 million in rapid response grants to be deployed across the Global South to strengthen vaccine equity.
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"We have the tools to ensure everyone is protected from COVID-19, but across the world, we’re seeing that the most vulnerable people are continuing to suffer," said Theron. "Overcoming this crisis means shining a light on the systems standing between people and the vital resources they need to get the facts and keep themselves and their communities safe. Education is the first step to ending vaccine hesitancy, and I’m thrilled to partner with the Ford Foundation to raise awareness around this issue and provide much-needed support to the groups working to end this pandemic.” |
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GRANTEE RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT |
BEAUTY 2 THE STREETZ |
Beauty 2 The Streetz is a grantee of Know Your Rights Camp, a philanthropic partner of EIF.
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Founded by Shirley Raines, Beauty 2 The Streetz supports the homeless community in Los Angeles. Recognizing that the lack of a home does not mean a lack of humanity, Beauty 2 The Streetz aims to serve by providing necessities alongside the things that make us feel inherently human: a hot shower, a hearty meal, the hope-inducing feeling of looking in the mirror and loving what you see. The nonprofit is building friendships based on equality and compassion, and it is this, more than simply the hair and makeup, that brings beauty to the streets.
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