Financial-aid recipient: Mari Geasair is a longtime actor, director, teacher and choreographer in the local theatre community, most recently having played Betty in Spotlight Theatre’s “The Foreigner,” Sue Bayliss in Cherry Creek Theatre’s “All My Sons” and Hannah in Ignite Theatre’s “The Busy World is Hushed.” The graduate of Colorado Academy and CU-Boulder also worked as Director of Development for Lake Dillon Theatre Company from 2012-14.
Her story: Mari is currently in real danger of permanently losing her ability to speak clearly because of dental problems. The problems started when she was hit in the mouth as a child and incurred damage that caused gum and bone damage. Now she needs to have all of her remaining teeth removed, bone grafts and several gum grafts. The result will be dentures, but unless she can get the work done immediately, there is a likelihood that the lower dentures will not fit properly and will leave her with a clicking and slurred speech. “The hope is that we can save and or graft enough bone so that I can get at least two lower implants which would hold a denture in place so that I could speak clearly,” she says. Mari still faces about $12,000 in medical costs, which must be paid in full before her bone graft surgery can happen. That is the total after subtracting insurance, discounts, special programs and her own money she already had set aside for further dental work. There is no payment-plan option. The longer she waits, the greater the chance of further bone deterioration.
How we will help: The Denver Actors Fund has granted Mari $2,500 toward the $12,000 she needs for the bone graft surgery. To date, this is the largest individual grant in the history of The Denver Actors Fund.
How you can help us help Mari Geasair more: Between the Denver Actors Fund grant and an ongoing GoFundMe campaign that has raised about $6,800, Mari is a little more than 70 percent to the $13,400 needed for her surgery to happen. To help us help Mari more, simply mail checks made out to Denver Actors Fund with Mari Geasair’s name written in the topic field, to 4594 Osceola St., Denver, CO 80212. Or use this donation link. In the comment field, be sure to designate whether your donation is intended for the replenishment of the DAF’s general fund, or a targeted donation to Mari Geasair.
Update April 24, 2016: Mari has now had her first surgery and, doctors say, just in time to prevent permanent speech loss. But she came out of the procedure still $7,120 in the hole (of a $19,000 grand total). Because the Denver Actors Fund considers cases like Mari’s open and ongoing, the board last week unanimously voted to gift Mari with another $1,000. To date, DAF efforts have generated $3,550 for Mari. “Without the Denver Actors Fund, my future would have been much different, and much sadder,” says Mari.
A message from Mari Geasair: “The second-scariest thing I can think of for any performer is the permanent loss of clear speech. But the absolute scariest thing I can think of is the feeling of being isolated, unworthy and hopeless. Thanks to the generosity and graciousness of The Denver Actors Fund, and our vibrant community, those fears don’t have turn into reality for me. The nightmare of serious dental issues is that even with good insurance, the cost can quickly become prohibitive. And the consequences of forgoing or delaying treatment can be dire. The generous support from our community means that not only do I not have to worry about how to pay the bills, but I don’t have to worry that I won’t be able to find a way to get the help I need in time. This is the power of real community and real philanthropy and real love in action. I am deeply grateful for The Denver Actors Fund and for this community. Every time I smile for the rest of my life, a part of it will be because of you.”
(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.)
ABOUT THE DENVER ACTORS FUND:
The Denver Actors Fund is a modest source of immediate, situational relief when members of the local theater community find themselves in medical need. In addition to financial relief, a team of more than 60 Denver Actors Fund volunteers offers good neighborly assistance including meal prep and delivery, child care, transportation, errands, construction, pet-sitting and more. For more information, visit our web site at www.DenverActorsFund.Org
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
To DONATE the Denver Actors Fund: Please click here (with our humble thanks):
APPLY FOR AID:
To apply for Denver Actors Fund aid: Fill out this brief online form here
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
DONATE BY MAIL:
Send checks made out to the Denver Actors Fund to:
4594 Osceola St.
Denver, CO 80212
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134 women (and a few token dudes) from the Colorado theater community, all supporting the Denver Actors Fund. They cost $20 per poster (20×28). To order, email your quantity to denveractorsfund@gmail.com. We’ll take care of delivery and payment from there.
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