For this young couple, the baby came early – and the bills came often. Here’s how the Denver Actors Fund helped.
About actors Lindsey and Adam Kinney: The couple met doing a 2015 production of “Avenue Q” in 2015 and have been fortunate to do 13 shows together since. Most recently, Lindsey played Elsa in Sasquatch Productions’ 2023 production of “The Sound of Music” at the PACE Center. She also directed Parker Arts’ “Matilda Jr.” last summer. In 2022, Lindsey received two Henry Award nominations for her work as Aunt Em and Glinda in Sasquatch’s “The Wizard of Oz,” and as Grace in Forgelight’s “The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes.” Adam, a grad of Aurora Hinkley High and Metropolitan State, has been in tons of shows over the years, most recently the PACE Center children’s production of “Alexander and the … Very Bad Day.” He will next play Jacey Squires in Performance Now’s “The Music Man,” opening March 22. By day, Adam is a financial adviso, while Lindsey works in life insurance. They also sing together at Wellshire Presbyterian Church as section leaders.
Their medical story: The Kinneys’ first son, Callaway, was due on Christmas Eve. But Lindsey had to be sent to the hospital on Dec. 1 because the baby’s heart rate kept dropping. Three days later, it was clear Lindsey would not be having a Christmas baby. A mere 32 hours of labor later, Callaway arrived. But complications from being early earned the kid a three-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. And there would be one more trip to the NICU for jaundice and very low oxygen levels. At home, Callaway was on oxygen for nearly a month, “and now he is thankfully a healthy, almost 3-month-old smiley baby boy,” said Lindsey. You know what happens next: Soon the bills started coming in, and the couple found themselves with more than $6,000 owed – after insurance!
LOW FUNDING ALERT: THE NEW PAWS FUND HAS ALMOST BURNED THROUGH ITS ALLOTMENT. DONATE TODAY TO KEEP IT GOING!
How we helped: The Kinneys have submitted six medical bills totaling $6,092, and the Denver Actors Fund board unanimously approved paying all of them.
‘WITH THIS HELP FROM THE DENVER ACTORS FUND, WE ARE ABLE TO TRULY ENJOY RAISING OUR SON WITHOUT THE STRESS OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN WEIGHING ON US.’ – LINDSEY KINNEY
A message from the Kinneys: “The Denver Actors Fund’s aid is an immense and incredible blessing. Bringing a child into this world has changed everything, and we are so grateful to have our son that we dreamed of and prayed for for years. Having medical hurdles to overcome in the first weeks of life was scary and stressful to say the least – and then came the bills. Over the years in this community, we have seen the Denver Actors Fund help so many people we love with medical expenses. It is incredible how there is seemingly no end to the help you all are willing to provide. With this help from the DAF, our family is able to move forward from the scary beginning and truly enjoy raising our son without the stress of the financial burden weighing on us. We are forever grateful to this community and the Denver Actors Fund – thank you, thank you, thank you!”
(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.)
Read more Denver Actors Fund testimonials by clicking here
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 presents the memorial video at the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2023 Henry Awards.
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 $1,300,000 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.
SHOP AMERICAN DOG: We have an exciting new partnership to share! American Dog, a USA-made company that makes dog toys, dog beds and accessories, has put together a special promotional offer to support the PAWS Fund. When you use the code DAFPAWS at checkout, 10% of your purchase will be donated to the PAWS Fund. Visit americandog.com/ to learn more! Thank you so much to Tina Anderson and our friends at American Dog!
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:
FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 2: Our friends at Littleton High School will be collecting donations after every performance of “Young Frankenstein.” This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the classic Mel Brooks movie follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (“that’s Fronkensteen!) as he attempts to create a monster – but not without comic complications. The brains behind the laughter is the mad genius himself (Brooks wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book) along with his team from “The Producers:” 199 E. Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80121
SUNDAY, MARCH 3: Ebner-Page Productions, the pair who conceived the 2017 “United in Love” concert that resulted in the largest donation to the Denver Actors Fund on our history, is back with “Love Changes Everything,” an all-new DAF benefit concert at the Aurora Fox, 9900 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010. The lineup (subject to change) will include Eugene Ebner, Jalyn Webb, Patric Case, Natalie Oliver-Atherton, Jeffrey Denman, Piper Lindsay Arpan, Leiney Rigg, Nick Rigg Johnson, Scott Hurst, Debbie Schwartz McGinley, Bob Hoppe, America Jackson, 3MoMezzos, Bobby Bennett, Monique Jacques Lester, Traci Kern Piper. Music Direction by Paul Falk. Tickets on sale at arts-people.com
MONDAY, APRIL 8: Please join us for Town Hall Arts Center’s Industry Night performance of “Raisin,” a new musical based on the classic play “A Raisin in the Sun,” starring Mary Louise Lee. Our friends at Town Hall are continuing their incredible commitment to designate one performance per run with 100 percent of all proceeds from ticket and concession sales to be donated to The Denver Actors Fund. Join us on MONDAY, APRIL 8, at 2450 Main St. in Littleton. Tickets are only $22 (normally as much as $52). Reserve your seats at 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org.
MORE UPCOMING TOWN HALL BENEFIT PERFORMANCES:
- Monday, June 3: “The Prom”
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.
