From training to trauma center to jawbreaker: Life changes in an instant
Aid recipient: Ashley Campbell got into sound design as a theatre major at the University of Denver and was hooked. “I really enjoyed the process of creating sounds,” she says. “It was one of the most exciting classes I took throughout all of college.” So, she just kept doing it. Ashley recently designed the sound for Butterfly Effect Theatre Company’s JQA. Previous credits include Curious Theatre’s The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa Fasthorse and Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Tiny Beautiful Things. While at the University of Denver, she was part of a True West Award-winning effort to stage the play White Rabbit Red Rabbit as the Associate Artistic Director of her company, Pipedream Productions.
Her original medical story: “One day, I was training for my new job as box-office attendant at Curious Theatre and, before I knew it, I was on the floor and my head was pulsing,” Ashley says. “I had lost consciousness, hit my head on a wall and had a seizure. The ambulance was called and I was taken to Denver Health to be inspected for head trauma. Luckily, everything was good and I was fully recovered by the next day.” But while Ashley has modest health insurance, she was left with an out-of-pocket bill of nearly $5,000. She has paid it down to $2,888.
How we helped: The Denver Actors Fund reimbursed Ashley with $1,946.70 toward that bill.
The latest chapter: Ashley is now preparing to have medically necessary jaw surgery, which meant having special X-rays taken to make sure the surgery is safe. Ashley’s insurance didn’t cover any of the cost, leaving her with an out-of-pocket obligation of this time of $2,814.
How we helped: The Denver Actors Fund reimbursed Ashley for the entire cost of this this new bill, or $2,814.34. With targeted donations from the community, The Denver Actors Fund’s total support for Ashley is now $4,811.04.
How you can help us help replenish: If you would like to direct a donation to help the Denver Actors Fund replenish in honor of Ashley Campbell, simply mail checks in any amount made out to The Denver Actors Fund (with Ashley’s name written in the topic field), to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80211. Or use this donation link.
A message from Ashley: “I am so thankful to the Denver theatre community and The Denver Actors Fund for helping pay my medical bills from this day. Without you, I’d still be drowning in medical debt.”
The Denver Actors Fund now has made more than $873,000 available to Colorado artists in need.
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 source of immediate, situational relief when members of the local theater community find themselves in medical need. In addition to $860,000 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
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!
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.
DONATE YOUR CAR
The Denver Actors Fund is now registered to accept vehicle donations, thanks to a new partnership with Vehicles for Charity. You can turn your unwanted but usable vehicle into greatly appreciated funds for The Denver Actors Fund. The process is simple. The DAF will receive 80 percent of auction proceeds, and a receipt for the donation will be sent to you that can be used for tax purposes. Read all about it here.
SHOP AMAZONSMILE
When you shop on Amazon, there is a simple and automatic way for you to support The Denver Actors Fund, at no cost to you. Simply click on the “Get Started” button to the left. Once you sign up with The Denver Actors Fund as your preferred charity, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. When you shop AmazonSmile instead of the regular Amazon, it’s still Amazon. You will find the exact same prices, selection and shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a potion of your proceeds to The Denver Actors Fund. The gift to us is not added to your bill. It comes from Amazon. Questions? Here’s more info.
COME TO (OR STREAM!) THE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT US:
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.
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.
