News PAWS Fund gave actor some hope when his beloved Peep was diagnosed with cancer
PAWS Fund recipient: Busy local actor Carter Edward Smith, a newly minted Henry Award winner for his performance in Give 5/Parker Arts’ “Footloose,” has been working consistently in the Colorado theater community for 11 years. Other recent roles include starring in Town Hall’s “Memphis” and “The Fantasticks.” Carter has also performed at the Arvada Center, Vintage Theatre, Aurora Fox, PACE Center, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre, The Bug and more. Carter graduated from Arapahoe High School in Littleton and studied musical theatre at Casper College, as well as film and TV acting at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.
Peep’s medical story: Carter’s dog, Peep, was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 lymphoma, but despite initial optimism that she might respond well to chemotherapy, Peep passed away. The treatment and end-of-life expenses were significant.
How we helped: The Denver Actors Fund Board unanimously approved a $3,000 grant to help Carter pay down his vet medical expenses, the most allowed in any 12-month period to a PAWS Fund recipient.
‘THE DAF IS THE ONLY REASON I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PEEP WITH A SHOT TO BEAT CANCER.’ – CARTER EDWARD SMITH
A message from Carter: “Peep was my baby. My entire life. She’s been through everything with me. She lost her battle with cancer, but the DAF is the only reason I was able to provide her with a shot to beat it. I’ll never be able to thank them enough for giving me that lift.”
What is the PAWS Fund?: The PAWS Fund is a new, separate fund administered by the Denver Actors Fund to help qualified Colorado theater artists (both on- and off-stage) with sudden veterinary medical expenses. It launched in May with $35,000 in seed money, of which $24,491 has been since distributed to qualified applicants. We have also received $2,000 in additional donations, which gives the PAWS Fund a present remaining balance of $12,059. If designated donations to the PAWS Fund continue to come in, the PAWS Fund will grow and continue indefinitely. If not, it will expire whenever the balance is gone. If you would like to help us keep it going, simply mail checks in any amount made out to Denver Actors Fund, P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80212, Please write “PAWS Fund” in the memo field. Or use this donation link, with our humble thanks. When you donate online, be sure to use the pull-down menu that gives you the option to specifically designate your donation to the PAWS Fund by choosing “Domestic Animal Medical.” Otherwise, as always, your donation will go to the General Fund and will be reserved for our primary mission, which is paying qualified applicants’ own (human!) medical bills.
Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here, or click on a recent name below:
SEAN SCRUTCHINS AND DEVON JAMES: $1,276
BRITTNI AND LAVOUR ADDISON, $13,361
The Denver Actors Fund has now made $1,290,000 available to Colorado theatre artists.
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.
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 source of immediate, situational relief when members of the local theater community find themselves in medical need. To date, the Fund has allocated more than $1,250,000 to more than 560 artists facing medical need. In addition to financial relief, a team of more than 100 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 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 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. 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.
VOLUNTEER:
Ever thought about taking a more active role in the Denver Actors Fund? Click here for more information
COME TO THE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT US:
Check back for more events in the fall!
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.
