Celebrities
Ben Affleck, Dakota Fanning, Eva Mendes, Garth Brooks, Jeremy Piven, Joaquin Phoenix, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon
Charities
American Association of Retired Persons, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Motion Picture & Television Fund
Causes
Cancer, Children, Creative Arts, Education, Health, Hunger, Poverty
November 22, 2007 by Elizabeth Willoughby
Ben Affleck, Dakota Fanning, Eva Mendes, Garth Brooks, Jeremy Piven, Joaquin Phoenix, Morgan Freeman, and Reese Witherspoon have filmed a Public Service Announcement for all Americans, stating that the country’s health care and financial security crisis is about to explode. But if people on both sides of the issue would start a dialogue, the problems are not insurmountable.
The video is part of the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) “Divided We Fail” project, an initiative that has just garnered support from the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF).
“We need to build a national conversation around these issues,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli, who is more than happy with the union. “The entertainment industry is uniquely suited to help us do that.”
It is a view shared by MPTF Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. “Hollywood can call attention to these problems and help galvanize the public into taking action,” said the producer of Shrek and head of the organization of entertainment industry leaders dedicated to supporting health and human service needs. “[This] is a key first step in solving them.”
The director of the video, Tony Goldwyn, had a very specific message to get across: “People wind up feeling that the two sides are just too far apart; that these problems are so big and complex that we can’t fix them. What we’re saying is, if we all get together and start talking, we can.”
Americans struggling with financial and health care problems are invited to share their stories at www.aarp.org, and their experiences may be used for the Divided We Fail project. The PSA video can also be viewed on the site. The AARP organization is dedicated to enhancing the experience of aging through advocacy, information, and service, with a focus on the needs for health, financial security, giving back to society, family and social connectedness, and joy in life.
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The Motion Picture & Television Fund, a non-profit organization with a long history, joined forces with Divided We Fail. The MPTF’s slogan was We Take Care of Our Own; however on January 14 of this year, the MPTF suddenly announced the intended closure of its hospital and long term care facility. As a result, the continuum of care of its campus no longer exists, and MPTF is “relocating” its patients to other facilities while trying to spin its PR. To learn more about the actions of a key participant in Divided We Fail,
see http://www.savingthelivesofourown.org
See what donors, entertainment industry members, and the public have to say at the online petition site which is in addition to more than 1500 signatures gathered in person.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keepthemptfhomeopen
Better yet, become informed and sign the petition.
The MPTF received big money for its sponsorship of Divided We Fail in alignment with big business while pushing its own vulnerable patients out the door after a 70 year history of providing hospital and nursing home, putting profits before patients.
A brazen move.
MPTF overturned its mission in favor of more clinics, an ambulatory surgery center, and upscale residences. It's all about the money. Where is the accountability?
Where is the charity?
2 months ago