Annette Bening Succeeds Brian Stokes Mitchell as Chair of the Board of Entertainment Community Fund

The Board of Directors of the Entertainment Community Fund — a national public service organization serving everyone in the performing arts and entertainment — has voted Tony and Oscar nominee Annette Bening as its new board chair.

Bening succeeds two-time Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, who has held the post since 2004.

Since 1882, the Recreational Community Fund Board of Directors has developed policies governing the organization’s programs and services. Benin joined the Board in 2010 and was appointed Vice-Chair in 2016.

Broadway favorite Mitchell will continue to serve as a trustee of the fund and chair the newly created Leadership Council, made up of past trustees, Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor recipients and volunteer representatives who help advance the organization’s work Composition of entertainment community leaders.

Under his leadership as chairman, Mitchell steered the fund through several major moments in the entertainment industry. During the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the organization helped more than 60,000 people through a wide range of programs and services. Since March 2020, the fund has disbursed more than $30 million in emergency financial assistance to more than 20,000 people.

read: Ragtime Reunion concert raises over $1 million for Recreation Community Fund; view photos and video

Benin and Mitchell have also jointly supported the Fund’s work for many years. In spring 2019, the pair celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the Friedman Pavilion at the Actors Fund House, marking the completion of a capital activity program to rebuild, expand and preserve the house.

“After more than 10 years as a trustee, I am proud to begin this new chapter with the Entertainment Community Fund as the next Chairman of the Board. I have always said that the Fund is not just talk, they are deeds. I have always been in awe of the Fund and So much work done to provide empathy, understanding and timely support to the entertainment industry. Congratulations to my dear friend Stokes for such an incredible tenure and I can’t wait to see what we achieve together in the years to come achievement,” Bening said.

Mitchell added, “Where do I start to reflect on my experience as chair of the foundation? It’s an honor to serve my peers, because we in the arts do what we love to do — even if we do Things bring challenges and uncertainty. Thanks to all the amazing people in the foundation, I know our community will continue to have a safety net of support in times of need. As my friend — and former high school classmate of mine! — With Annette in the chair, I know the board and fund are in excellent hands.”

“It is a gift to have such an inspiring individual join the Entertainment Community Fund family and serve on our board, councils and committees,” said Fund President and CEO Joe Benincasa. “Annette and Stokes embody a strong commitment not only to the Fund, but to the people we help every day across the country and across the industry. They inspire the best in all of us and the colleagues who work with them Potential. It has been an honor to work with Stokes for the past 19 years, and I am honored to seek new heights of service to support artistic life with Annette as Chair.”

Bening is a two-time Tony nominee (all my sons, coastal disturbance) and four Oscar nominations (The kids are fine, be Julia, American Beauty, Hustlers) and two-time Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner.

Since 1882, the foundation has worked to ensure stability, encourage resilience, and provide a safety net for those who shape our nation’s cultural vitality.access entertainmentcommunity.org.

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