Denver Actors Fund helps actor with dental emergency after previous, life-threatening freeway collision
Financial aid recipient: Actor Abner Genece is the co-writer and assistant director of Benchmark Theatre’s world-premiere devised work, “Elephant,” which imagines the horribly deformed archetype David Merrick as a contemporary Black Man who is discovered in a modern world with an 1880s mindset. (Through October 30.) Next month, he will appear in “American Son” at Curious Theatre, and early next year, he can be seen in the Arvada Center’s “Animal Farm” and “Stick Fly.” He appeared in last year’s launch episode the Arvada Center’s “Amplify,” a series of multidisciplinary videos that give voice to underrepresented communities. Previous local credits include Curious’ “Water by the Spoonful” and the Arvada Center’s “The Electric Baby,” “Sense & Sensibility” and “All My Sons.” His New York stage credits include “Othello,” “Hamlet,” “The Cherry Orchard,” “Tartuffe” and “Waiting for Godot.”
His original medical story: In the summer of 2017, Abner and his son, Jayden, then 12, were in a nearly fatal auto accident while driving to Portland for a holiday visit with family. They were rear-ended by a semi-truck going at least 60 mph and were then slammed into a U-Haul truck in front of them. The accident occurred in Wyoming, and both Abner and Jayden were airlifted to different hospitals in Utah. Jayden was seriously hurt, but recovered over time. But the injuries Abner sustained required multiple surgeries on his ribs and spine. He now has nine metal plates in his body supporting him. He faced a long road toward recovery and healing that was difficult, painful and expensive. As he recovered, he needed help with basic living expenses, medical equipment and household chores.
‘Simply put, I would not be here without the Denver Actors Fund.’
– Abner Genece
How we helped: The Denver Actors Fund’s board of directors approved grants totaling $5,682.50, at the time the largest gift in our history, to help Abner with immediate living expenses. He also was the recipient of our Action Team volunteer services including meals, transportation, housekeeping and more. Targeted donations from the community brought our initial support for Abner to $6,372.50.
The latest: Abner contacted The Denver Actors Fund in August for help with a dental emergency.
How we helped: The Denver Actors Fund has a partnering dentist in Dr. Brian Kelly DDS, who accepts a limited number of emergency cases each year as his personal, in-kind donation to The DAF (along with his kind associates at the Dental Center at Thornton Plaza). Dr. Kelly gave Abner the multiple crowns he needed to restore his gums to health. The value of Dr. Kelly’s donated services was $3,840. The Denver Actors Fund paid an additional $297 for a third-party lab fee, bringing our overall support Abner in this case to $4,137. This case brings the total of Dr. Kelley’s in-kind support to Colorado theatre artists through the DAF to $120,000. And it brings the overall assistance the Denver Actors Fund has provided to Abner to $10,858.83.
How you can help us replenish: If you would like to help The Denver Actors Fund replenish, simply mail checks in any amount made out to Denver Actors Fund to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80212. Or use this donation link.
To volunteer to become a member of one of the Denver Actors Fund’s volunteer Action Teams, sign up here.
Video above: Abner Genece appeared on the premiere episode of the Arvada Center’s “Amplify” series (at about the 18:30 mark).
HOW YOU CAN HELP US REPLENISH:
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NEW: AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
The Denver Actors Fund has announced a major new collaboration with the Maria Droste Counseling Center of Colorado to provide affordable, professional health care to any qualifying Colorado theatre artist who needs it. Click here for information
GET INSTANT, FREE MEDICAL ADVICE: The Denver Actors Fund has launch of a major new FREE medical service for qualified Colorado theatre artists: We are partnering with Hippo Health to provide access to emergency medical evaluations via video conferencing with a Board-certified physician. Click to read more about this wonderful, innovative new partnership that will further improve the lives of artists!
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DONATE ONLINE:
Go to our online giving site at: ColoradoGives.Org
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Denver, CO 80211
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Sign up for King Soopers’ Community Rewards Program and raise money for The DAF just by shopping for your groceries – and it doesn’t cost you an extra penny. It’s like the Amazon Smile Program. To sign up, simply go here and designate The DAF as your preferred non-profit. Each quarter, King Soopers sends us a donation based on how much our supporters have spent. Thanks to all of you who are shopping for The DAF.
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COME TO (OR STREAM!) THE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT US:
NOVEMBER 3: Vintage Theatre Productions Cabaret Series presents: “Thank You for the Music” with Hazel Kachline and friends. Share an intimate evening with Denver’s hard-working young triple threat and some super-talented friends. Hazel’s set list will make you feel all the feels. Performer proceeds benefit the Denver Actors Fund. Featuring: Gabe Waits, Kaitlin Weinstein and Antonina Monsolino. Music Direction by Eric Weinstein. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3. Tickets $21 (live); $12 (streaming). Tickets at vintagetheatre.org
ONGOING: “Waiting for Obama,” the audio version of DAF Founder John Moore’s play that was an official selection at the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival, has been released as way of raising funds for The Denver Actors Fund. A Colorado Springs family is convinced that Barack Obama is coming for their guns in the final weeks of his presidency – and they’re right. Featuring Laurence Curry, Drew Horwitz, Chris Kendall, Leslie O’Carroll, Jenna Moll Reyes, Jessica Robblee, Luke Sorge and Mare Trevathan. It was recorded by the staff of Parker Arts at the PACE Center as an in-kind donation to The Denver Actors Fund. Listen for FREE on all major podcasting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Podbean. Just by listening, you will be raising revenue for The DAF! Or, WATCH the recording as a pay-per-view video for $9.95 on Broadway on Demand. ‘Waiting for Obama’ was recorded by the staff of Parker Arts at the PACE Center and edited by Ray Bailey TV as in-kind donations to The Denver Actors Fund. The actors also donated their services.
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