When Medicaid would not help a local actor with Medicaid, we did
Aid recipient: Laura Jo Trexler, who grew up in Littleton and graduated from Heritage High School, last year performed her one-woman Shakespearean musical “Play On! A Musical Romp Through Shakespeare’s Women” for And Toto too Theatre Company at the Denver Performing Arts Complex’s Champa Studio. Previous Colorado credits include Bill Pullman’s “The Wild Hunt” for VisionBox Studios, Curious Theatre’s “The Flick” and “The Lieutenant of Inishmore”; the Arvada Center’s “The Ladies Man”; and Creede Rep’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Her medical story: Laura Jo recently needed an emergency root canal. And while she qualifies for Medicaid, mystifyingly, Medicaid covers root canals in only 26 states – one of them NOT being Colorado. So she got stuck with a $1,755 bill from a local dental company in Lakewood. And that was before she had the new tooth crowned, which she could not pay for at the time. That’s when we heard from her at The Denver Actors Fund.
How we have helped: First, The DAF paid off the $1,755 bill to the Lakewood dental firm. Second, The DAF has a partnering dentist who accepts a limited number of emergency cases each year as his personal, in-kind donation through the Dental Center at Thornton Plaza. Dr. Brian Kelly DDS (himself a former Broadway dancer!) agreed to finish off Laura Jo’s case with a crown. Dr. Kelly’s intervention saved Laura Jo (and The DAF) from paying out an additional $1,431 to complete her treatment. There was also a $99 third-party lab fee, which The DAF has paid. All told, The DAF made $3,285 in medical assistance available to Laura Jo, of which $1,431 was Dr. Kelly’s in-kind donation to The DAF.
A message from Laura Jo: “At a time when it can be hard to remember the true goodness of humanity, I am humbly reminded it is out there. The Denver Actors Fund represents the best in humanity, and I am beyond grateful for the urgent care I was able to receive. Thank you from the bottom of my heart – and bank account!”
The Denver Actors Fund now has made more than $480,000 available to Colorado artists in medical need.
How you can help us help us help more Colorado theatre artists: If you would like to make a donation to The Denver Actors Fund, simply mail checks in any amount made out to Denver Actors Fund to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80211. Or use this donation link, with our humble thanks.
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 their 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 $480,000 in financial relief, a team of more than 60 Denver Actors Fund volunteers have 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
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!
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
DONATE ONLINE:
Go to our online giving site at: ColoradoGives.Org
DONATE BY MAIL:
Send checks made out to The Denver Actors Fund to:
P.O. Box 11182
Denver, CO 80211
VOLUNTEER:
Ever thought about taking a more active role in The Denver Actors Fund? Click here for more information
SHOP AT KING SOOPERS
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.
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.
