What does the press say?
"[Making a] tremendous amount
of impact"
-Peter Hostrawser
"[Brando Crawford] is a visionary ...
working off of momentum!" -
In interview with Michael Halberstam, covered by Doug George
"The latest example of stars continuing
to use their talents... to help"
- Will Thorne
What do actors say?
"What better way to spend my time [than acting in a production produced by Acting for a Cause]?"
-Academy Award ® Nominee
Florence Pugh (Little Women)
"[Brando Crawford] is a helpful and insightful Director to work with"
-Margaret Qualley, Emmy ® Nominated Actress for Fosse/Verdon
"In the history of the world, one of the amazing things have been actors coming together.
I think it is important that we support AFC...
I am a full fledged fan of Brando Crawford:
the more I learn about Acting for a Cause,
the more I get excited about it.
- Alex Wolff
(MTV award nominee for "Hereditary")
Hi, my name is Brando Crawford. I am the Founder, Artistic Director, and Producer of Acting for a Cause.
Acting for a Cause started March 2020, just as the pandemic was announced and is both a campaign to raise money, awareness, and to provide free entertainment to our viewers.
We have partnered Entertainment Industry Foundation to support causes we have researched thoroughly and need our help- through their emergency fund the EIF issues a grant with the total amount pledged from each reading to the corresponding non-profit.
Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, and here is what they have to say:
"Currently our system has [a varied number of] inpatients that are COVID-19 positive, about half are currently in ICU on ventilators. We are currently working with several community partners to help distribute masks, provide virus and proper protective equipment use within the North Lawndale community.
As Chicago statistics show 75% of those diagnosed with COVID-19 are African America, this makes the communities we serve some of the most at risk population. As it is those within the zip codes we serve have a 15 year difference in life expectancy from the rest of the City of Chicago zip code locations. Many in the North Lawndale, Little Village, and Back of the Yards communities suffer from socioeconomic struggles and health co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma."
We pledge these funds to Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago to assist these families directly with whatever their immediate needs are and to help solve the problem within the problem- that minorities from low income backgrounds are disproportionately affected.
The Entertainment Industry Foundation Another larger percentage of the population is going through economic turmoil. Especially, low income families who have lost their jobs (many low income families have jobs in service industries- like restaurants and hotels, and have been furloughed because of their financial situation affecting these industries right now- it takes some time to recover from being furloughed- way longer than however long this shelter in place is going to last).
Since many charities focus on the bare necessities we try to identify who else is in need and go from there.
EIF builds awareness and raises funds, developing and enhancing programs on the local, national and global level that facilitate positive social change.
Created in 1943 by Hollywood icons — Samuel Goldwyn, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and the Warner brothers — the Entertainment Industry Foundation has focused on some of the most pressing needs of our time: from the first grants directed to wartime agencies such as the United States Organizations and American Red Cross to utilizing the power of the industry to help eradicate child polio to our current efforts to raise funds and awareness for critical health, educational and social issues.
"EIF has raised over $1 billion to date. We are a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity that meets all 20 Better Business Bureau charity standards, and we carry the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency"
At first, I was not sure I was interested in partnering with such a big organization, but after a conversation with the Vice-President, it was clear this was a great route to go.
Big organizations, bring BIG change. It is a reality- and now more than every Arts funding is being cut on a national level.
With their organization, we will help create consistent Performing Arts education for children from low-income backgrounds.
As a side note, I have also been invited to join the advocacy council at EIF, helping me stay informed and continue to make a difference.
Know Your Rights Camp
"Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders."
If you love what we are doing, donate at the top of the page: ActingforaCause.org!
Follow us at @acting4acause to stay up to date.
If you want to follow producer and director, Brando Crawford, follow him on Instagram at @professorbrando for behind the scenes every step of the process.
Or visit his personal website, to learn more about him and his projects.
Consider becoming a Patreon to directly support the expenses of our group (We commission the art and also staff a PR team totaling nearly $1,350 per reading)
Acting for a Cause is run by volunteers! Brando Crawford and the actors do not receive any compensation and no amount is deducted from the donations to staff anyone- your donation fully counts toward the cause we are supporting!
All donors will receive an update on final total and impact September 2020.
Continue to make a difference!