Arnold Schwarzenegger was glad to help fellow actors in need during the
present strike.
The actor from Terminator was one of numerous celebrities who gave $1
million apiece to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Emergency Financial Assistance
Program in August in order to support the "journeymen actors facing
tremendous economic hardship" during the strike.
Speaking to Town & Country magazine for its tenth annual Philanthropy
Issue, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is 76 years old, said that it was a
straightforward decision to support SAG-AFTRA.
"The moment you accept that you are not self-made, you come to the
realization that you must give something back. It becomes ingrained in you
when you realize how satisfying it is to truly help someone else," he
added.
Recalling his time spent working with the Special Olympics in the 1970s,
Schwarzenegger said he "found great joy in giving something back and helping
other people." Over the years, he has committed to several charity
activities as a result of this event.
"In America, I have amassed millions of dollars." I didn't hesitate to
donate a million dollars to SAG in order to support the impoverished
individuals who are currently experiencing hardship as a result of the
strike," he remarked.
"I earned the money that I have because of America, so I'm more than happy
to give some of it away for very important causes," the author of Be Useful:
Seven Tools for Life said.
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation lists Matt Damon, George Clooney, Leonardo
DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Blake
Lively, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Hugh
Jackman, and more as additional well-known donors who gave $1 million each
alongside Schwarzenegger.
"I remember my days as a waiter, cleaner, typist, and even my time on the
unemployment line," Streep said in a statement at the time. I consider
myself fortunate to be able to stand beside people who will have to fight
Goliath for a long time in this strike action.
"Together, we shall resist these formidable corporations that are
determined to eradicate humanity, human dignity, and humanity altogether
from our line of work," she continued. "My fellow actors who volunteered to
fund the Emergency Financial Assistance Program right away make me the
proudest."
On July 14, SAG-AFTRA went on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture
and Television Producers (AMPTP). They conducted more negotiations with the
studios this week while the strike goes on, with artificial intelligence in
filmmaking being a major sticking point.
Actors are prohibited from promoting or filming movies or TV series while
on strike unless a temporary agreement is reached for the project.
The Writers Guild of America strike ended in late September after 148
days.
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