Aid recipient No. 3: For years, Becky Toma has been a busy props designer and P.R. freelancer for clients that include schools, local theatre companies and Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret. In 2013 alone, Becky designed props (and did some wardrobe supervision) on the Town Hall Arts Center’s “Forever Plaid,” “Hair” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”; Phamaly Theatre Company’s “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Itʼs A Wonderful Life”; and the Mizel Center’s “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Into the Woods,” “Lillyʼs Purple Plastic Purse” and “Sweeney Todd.” When she was injured, she was in the process of designing and building props for two more local theatre productions. “Friends and some of my fellow theater professionals jumped in to help me complete the shows,” said Becky. “I built a number of props from my hospital room. Staff and residents found this very entertaining as props came and went from my room!”
Her story: Becky fell and fractured her knee (the tibial plateau) on Nov. 15, and she will need a wheelchair for mobility for an undetermined period. Doctors are hoping her knee will mend without surgery. She has health insurance but with a very high deductible, and all equipment essential to her rehabilitation, including her wheelchair rental, walker purchase and outside wheelchair-ramp rental will have to come out of her own pocket. Because she is unable to accept new work, she has not much income at present. “I still have my promotional work with Lannieʼs Clocktower Cabaret, so at least some money is coming in to pay some of my regular bills while Iʼm laid up,” she said. “As you can imagine though, there have been many, many unexpected expenses, with more due to come in.”
Outcome: A check for $294.06 was issued by the Denver Actors Fund today to pay for Becky’s wheelchair rental. Becky still has many additional outstanding expenses, including her exterior ramp rental, new railings, an elevated toilet seat and walker. If you would like to add specific, targeted contributions to Becky Toma, send checks in her name to Denver Actors Fund, 4594 Osceola St., Denver, CO, 80212. All checks made out to Denver Actors Fund are presumed contributions to the general fund.
A message from Becky: “Any assistance I receive from the Denver Actors Fund is greatly appreciated. When Iʼm back working again, I hope to contribute back to the Fund!”
Note: At the Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the recipient chooses to have his or her story told.
