Aid recipient: Andrew “Metz” Metzroth is a native of Boulder and graduate of Fairview High School who left CU-Boulder with a BA (Religious Studies), a BFA (Theatre Technology and Design) and an MA (Theatre). Overall, Metz has helped create more than 125 shows in the metro area since 2005. He has been an ensemble member of the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company since 2010, and served as Production Manager from 2012-16. Recent BETC credits include Going to a Place Where You Already Are (Lights/Projections), Silent Sky (Lights) and Cyrano (Sound/
His medical story: Andrew went to the E.R. several months ago with appendicitis and was taken to surgery for an immediate, emergency appendectomy. His medical bills eventually totaled $5,584. The good news: He has medical insurance. The bad news: His policy comes with an impossibly high annual deductible of $6,000. Meaning he is essentially on the hook for this entire medical ordeal. Andrew and his wife, Amy Cole, responsibly maintained a Health Savings Account with a healthy balance of $2,631 — but that still leaves him with nearly $3,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Exacerbating their financial woes: The new parents just moved into a new house in Longmont but within three weeks the roof was ripped up by a wind storm, which, after homeowner’s insurance, added another $1,000 to their present debt. Which just goes to show they have no financial wiggle room.
How we have helped: The Denver Actors Fund board considered a variety of levels of possible compensation. A gift of $2,953.08, combined with the full balance in the couple’s Health Savings Account, would have wiped out the medical portion their debt. But it also would have wiped out their savings and left them with no protection from any forthcoming medical expenses for 2018. So the Board has instead voted to grant more than was originally asked — $3,900 — so that the couple can now keep at least a portion of their current savings.
How you can help us help the couple more: Even with this DAF support, the couple has immediate, non-medical financial bills to pay. As an incorporated medical fund, the DAF can only directly assist beneficiaries with funds that are incurred because of a specific medical situation. However, anyone reading this is free to direct additional donations targeted to Andrew Metzroth and Amy Cole for use at their discretion. If you would like to direct an additional targeted donation, simply mail checks made out to The Denver Actors Fund (with the Metzroth name written in the topic field) to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO, 80212. Or use this donation link. If you use the online option, be sure to designate that your donation is targeted for Andrew Metzroth. Otherwise, your donation will be applied to the replenishment of the Denver Actors Fund’s general fund. Which would be greatly appreciated as well.
Update: A $500 targeted donation from Diana Kinsey to help Andrew Metzroth and his family have brought the total amount of DAF assistance for Andrew and his family to $4,400 through Aug. 30.
A message from Andrew: “I am floored. This grant completely turns around my family’s concerns about financial stability over the next year. It is transformational, and will help us get our lives back on track so much faster than we could ever do it ourselves. I am feeling a ton of relief right now that I never thought I would. Generally I consider myself a pretty independent person. Amy and I both have steady day jobs at a major university, and we saved a substantial amount in the event of this exact kind of medical contingency. Despite that, a hospital visit for about the most routine medical emergency there is still put me in a position where my family was not going to have the means to handle all my medical bills alone. It’s taken me a good deal of soul-searching to realize that the problem here is a medical system that forces us into major, unavoidable payments for the privilege of staying alive. This is a systemic issue that our country still needs to resolve. Thanks again, DAF. I’m still not sure how to express my amazement.”
How you can help The Denver Actors Fund help more Colorado artists in need: The Denver Actors Fund has now made more than $231,000 available to Colorado artists in medical need. If you would to help us replenish, simply mail checks made out to The Denver Actors Fund to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO, 80212. Or use this donation link.
Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here
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.
HOW YOU CAN HELP US REPLENISH:
To DONATE the Denver Actors Fund, please CLICK HERE (with our humble thanks)
ABOUT THE DENVER ACTORS FUND:
Video above: The Denver Actors Fund receives the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2016 Community Impact Award.
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 $225,000 in financial relief, a team of more than 60 Denver Actors Fund volunteers has offered good neighborly assistance to more than 100 beneficiaries including meal prep and delivery, child care, transportation, errands, construction, pet-sitting and more. For more information, visit our web site at DenverActorsFund.Org.
HOW TO 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:
P.O. Box 11182
Denver, CO 80212
VOLUNTEER:
Volunteer Appreciation and Re-Boot. Ever thought about taking a more active role in the Denver Actors Fund? On Monday, May 21, we invite you to join us from 6-8 p.m. at Buntport Theater (7171 Lipan St.), both to celebrate our current volunteers (party!) and talk about practical ways of beefing up our “Action Council” — that’s a group of about 12 “Super Volunteers” who each have taken ownership of a specific piece of the operation. The more, the merrier. This is your invitation to become more actively involved with the Denver Actors Fund as we continue to build toward the future. Click here for more information
COME TO OUR EVENTS:
Mile High 24: Madness Takes a Holiday! Denver’s annual 24-Hour Playwriting Festival returns for its 5th installment featuring short plays written, staged, and performed over a 24-hour period. This year’s theme centers around eight holidays. All proceeds benefit The Denver Actors Fund, and founder John Moore has once again agreed to be one of the sleepless playwrights. Two shows only, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. n Saturday, June 2, at Denver’s Dangerous Theatre. Click here for mote information
VISIT OUR ONLINE MERCH STORE:
Click here to see how you can buy DAF products such as T-shirts, key chains, puzzles and much more
