The SAG Foundation to Honor Lee Daniels and Others
Acclaimed director/producer/writer Lee Daniels, award-winning producer Megan Ellison, and award-winning director/producer Rob Marshall will be honored by the SAG Foundation in November.
LOS ANGELES - The Screen Actors Guild Foundation announced today its tributes to award-winning director/producer/writer Lee Daniels, award-winning producer Megan Ellison, and award-winning director/producer Rob Marshall with the first "Patron of the Artists Awards" at the nonprofit's 30th Anniversary Celebration on November 5th.
Honoring industry leaders who are champions of the arts, the award recognizes individuals whose history of fostering creativity and creating opportunities for actors has made a positive impact on the acting profession and the performing arts. "This year, the SAG Foundation celebrates 30 years of giving back to the community, and our three Patron of the Artists Award recipients are class acts known for generously contributing to a world-wide community of artists," said SAG Foundation President JoBeth Williams. "Each has discovered, nurtured, and propelled creative talent both in front and behind the camera - Lee for diversity in storytelling and casting, Megan as a next generation patron for auteur filmmakers, and Rob for reviving the musical genre and giving actors opportunities to showcase different talents. Their legacy and future work are inspirations for fans and filmmakers alike and the SAG Foundation is thrilled to honor them."
"Actors are the pulse of every project I do. I'm excited and honored to be part of this special event with the SAG Foundation," said Daniels.
"I am completely thrilled and humbled to be receiving this newly created honor from the SAG Foundation. My greatest joy comes from working with actors and I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with the very best," said Marshall.
The nonprofit recently announced Leonardo DiCaprio will receive the Actors Inspiration Award during the SAG Foundation 30th Anniversary Celebration taking place Thursday, November 5th at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. The event will include musical performances with ticket sales benefitting the SAG Foundation. Performers and presenters will be announced in the next several weeks. Sponsors include Vanity Fair, United Airlines, Champagne Taittinger, Rise Up Foundation and Variety. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit SAGFoundation.org/30Years. To follow the 30th Anniversary Celebration, follow @SAGFoundation on Twitter and Instagram and /SAGFoundation on Facebook, and use #SAGF30 to join the conversation.
In 2015, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation celebrates 30 years of giving back to the professionals of SAG-AFTRA, their families and communities. The nonprofit provides vital assistance and educational programming to the professionals of SAG-AFTRA while serving the public at large through its signature children's literacy programs. For 30 years, the Foundation has granted more than $17 million in financial and medical assistance through its Catastrophic Health Fund and Emergency Assistance Programs, and $6.5 million in scholarships to SAG-AFTRA members and their dependents. In addition, the nonprofit has offered 5000 free educational workshops, panels and screenings to union performers nationwide and its children's literacy programs have brought the love of reading to more than 66 million children worldwide.
