Theatre Cares

Dec. 1, 2024

Theatre Cares Vancouver has been raising funds and awareness for those living with HIV/AIDS, and for vulnerable members of our community, since 1991. We averaged, over 33 years, to raise 25K/year to distribute to worthy charities. That’s roughly $825,000.00 raised by volunteers. Theatre Cares also looked out for the health and well-being of our Canadian artists by annually supporting The Actors Fund of Canada and the Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver. In addition, our Theatre Cares Scholarship of $1500.00 annually was designed to provide relief to promising emerging theatre artists in training who were struggling to continue their studies. Past recipients include Cameron Peal and Ashley Chartrand.

Without the generosity of theatre patrons and the support of local theatre companies, most notably Bard on the Beach and The Arts Club, Theatre Cares would not have been able to do the work that it has done. Our fundraising efforts have benefited many charities including the Coast Foundation, Triage Emergency Services & Care Society, Camp Moomba, PEERS Vancouver, Rainbow Refugee, BC Persons With Aids Society and Aids Vancouver, to name just a few. People’s lives were positively impacted, and suffering was replaced with hope.

Theatre Cares Vancouver was an artist-driven, volunteer-based organization that united the generous spirit of Vancouver’s performing arts community with its supporters to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS relief and other worthy causes. It is with a full heart that we say a fond farewell. Our last disbursement was to Rainbow Refugee on Dec. 1, 2024. After three plus decades, it is time to move on and invite the next generation of theatre artists to care in whatever way they see fit. We at Theatre Cares hope we have been an inspiration.

To all the many people who have volunteered for and supported us over the years, we send our deepest gratitude.

Sincerely,
Diane Brown,
Theatre Cares, Vancouver.

We are back!

Sept 5 to 11, 2022, is Theatre Cares Week at Bard on the Beach! Please attend one of their fabulous waterfront shows and donate to Theatre Cares.

All of our proceeds will go to this season’s charities which include local HIV/Aids groups, Rainbow Refugee, the Actors Fund of Canada and The Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver (PAL). 

To make a direct donation to TC, just mail a cheque to Theatre Cares, 1398 Cartwright St, Unit 203, Vancouver BC, V6H 3R8. We are not a registered charity so no tax receipt can be issued. We are simply working theatre professionals volunteering to support worthy causes by giving 100 percent of our proceeds to charities since 1991.

Thank you for your support and see you at the Theatre! 

Nov. 25, 2019 – Theatre Cares Vancouver has raised $20,000! This year money will support the following groups: The Actors Fund of Canada (AFC) which assists professional Canadian entertainers maintain their health, dignity, and ability to work, the Performing Arts Lodge which provides safe and affordable housing for people in the creative community, and Rainbow Refugee, a Vancouver-based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. Funds will be distributed on Dec. 1st in honour of World Aids Day.

Also, Theatre Cares Vancouver is now sponsoring a scholarship given to an outstanding theatre student at Studio 58 in financial need. The 2019 Theatre Cares Scholarship for $1500 has been awarded to Cameron Peal. Cameron is an Indigenous student who comes from the Gingoix Village Government in the community of Gingoix, just north of Terrace. He is an actor, writer, poet and aspiring director aiming to continue dialogue about the Indigenous question in Canada.

Huge thanks to the staff and audiences of The Arts Club Theatre and Bard on the Beach who made this possible! Theatre Cares Vancouver has been raising funds and awareness around HIV/AIDs since 1991.

Theatre Cares also looks out for the health and well being of our Canadian artists by supporting The AFC and PAL Vancouver. Our new Theatre Cares scholarship is designed to inspire and provide relief to promising theatre artists in training who are struggling to continue their studies.

Without the generosity of the theatre patrons and the support of local theatre companies, Theatre Cares would not be able to do the work that it does. Our fundraising over the years has benefited the Coast Foundation, Triage Emergency Services & Care Society, Camp Moomba, PEERS Vancouver, The Electric Company, BC Persons With Aids Society and Aids Vancouver. Theatre Cares Vancouver is a volunteer-based organization that unites the generous spirit of Vancouver’s performing arts community with its supporters to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS relief and other worthy cause.

For more information, please contact: Diane Brown, Chair, Theatre Cares Vancouver, diane@rubyslippers.ca

Theatre Cares Vancouver has raised $25,000!

This years money will support the following groups: Positive Living BC, an organization dedicated to helping people with HIV/Aids through mutual support and collective action, The Actors Fund of Canada (AFC) which assists professional Canadian entertainers maintain their health, dignity, and ability to work, the Performing Arts Lodge which provides safe and affordable housing for people in the creative community, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, an organization dedicated to the relief of the HIV/Aids pandemic in Africa, and Rainbow Refugee, a Vancouver-based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. Funds will be distributed on Dec. 1st in honour of World Aids Day.

Also, Theatre Cares Vancouver is now sponsoring a scholarship given to an outstanding theatre student at Studio 58 in financial need. The 2018 Theatre Cares scholarship for $1500 has been awarded to Ashley Chartrand.

Huge thanks to the staff and audiences of The Arts Club Theatre and Bard on the Beach who made this possible!

Theatre Cares Vancouver has been raising funds and awareness around HIV/AIDs since 1991.

Finding money to keep much-needed programs going is not the only obstacle in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Education appears to be sorely lacking as well. The Canadian AIDS Society has reported that a large number of youth believe there is not only a cure for HIV/AIDS, but there is also a vaccine available to prevent HIV infection. There is not.

Theatre Cares also looks out for the health and well being of our Canadian artists by supporting The AFC and PAL Vancouver. Our new Theatre Cares scholarship is designed to inspire and provide relief to promising theatre artists in training who are struggling to continue their studies.

Without the generosity of the theatre patrons and the support of local theatre companies, Theatre Cares would not be able to do the work that it does. Our fundraising over the years has benefited the Coast Foundation, Triage Emergency Services & Care Society, Camp Moomba, PEERS Vancouver, The Electric Company, BC Persons With Aids Society and Aids Vancouver.

Theatre Cares Vancouver is a volunteer-based organization that unites the generous spirit of Vancouver’s performing arts community with its supporters to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS relief and other worthy causes.

For more information, please contact:

Diane Brown,

Chair, Theatre Cares Vancouver

diane@rubyslippers.ca

Theatre Cares Vancouver is a volunteer-run organization made up of theatre professionals. Since 1991, Theatre Cares has raised funds and awareness for people living with HIV/Aids, in addition to raising funds for performing artists in need. Over the years, we have remained committed to this mission, giving to charities like Camp Moomba, AIDS Vancouver, the Performing Arts Lodge and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. We are proud to sponsor an annual scholarship for Studio 58, The Theatre Cares Scholarship, awarded to a promising young theatre student. For more information contact Diane Brown at diane@rubyslippers.ca or visit theatrecares.com.

Congratulations to Ashley Chartrand, the first recipient of the Theatre Cares Scholarship!

Theatre Cares Vancouver has raised $28,000 in support of local Aids organizations, AIDS Vancouver and Positive Living BC, in addition to The Actors Fund of Canada (AFC) which assists professional Canadian entertainers maintain their health, dignity, and ability to work, the Performing Arts Lodge which provides safe and affordable housing for people in the creative community, and the Stephen Lewis Foundation, an organization dedicated to the relief of the HIV/Aids pandemic in Africa. Each of these charities will receive financial support from Theatre Cares. Huge thanks to the staff and audiences of The Arts Club Theatre and Bard on the Beach who made this possible!

Theatre Cares Vancouver has been raising funds and awareness around HIV/AIDs since 1991.

Finding money to keep much-needed programs going is not the only obstacle in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  Education appears to be sorely lacking as well. The Canadian AIDS Society has reported that a large number of youth believe there is not only a cure for HIV/AIDS, but there is also a vaccine available to prevent HIV infection. There is not.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation works with community-level organizations that are turning the tide of HIV&AIDS in Africa by providing care and support to women, orphaned children, grandmothers and people living with HIV&AIDS. Since 2003, they have funded over 1,400 initiatives, partnering with more than 300 community-based organizations in the 15 African countries hardest hit by the global AIDS pandemic. These grassroots groups are the lifeline for their communities: they provide counselling and education about HIV prevention, care and treatment; distribute food, medication and other necessities; reach the sick and vulnerable through home-based health care; help orphans and vulnerable children access education and work through their grief; and support grandmothers caring for their orphaned grandchildren.

Without the generosity of the theatre patrons and the support of local theatre companies, Theatre Cares would not be able to do the work that it does. Our fundraising over the years has benefited PAL Vancouver, the Coast Foundation, Triage Emergency Services & Care Society, Camp Moomba, PEERS Vancouver, Electric Company and the Positive Women’s Network, a partnership of women living with HIV/AIDS in British Columbia.

Theatre Cares Vancouver is a volunteer-based organization that unites the generous spirit of Vancouver’s performing arts community with its supporters to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS relief and other worthy causes.

For more information, please contact:
Diane Brown,
Chair, Theatre Cares Committee
diane@rubyslippers.ca

Theatre Cares Vancouver has raised over $30,000 in support of AIDS Vancouver, Positive Living BC, the Actors’ Fund of Canada, the Performing Arts Lodge which provides safe and affordable housing for people in the creative community, and the Stephen Lewis Foundation, an organization dedicated to the relief of the HIV/Aids pandemic in Africa. Each of these charities will receive support from Theatre Cares. This is thanks to The Arts Club Theatre and Bard on the Beach, whose patrons gave generously.

Finding money to keep much-needed programs going is not the only obstacle in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Education appears to be sorely lacking as well. The Canadian AIDS Society has reported that a large number of youth believe there is not only a cure for HIV/AIDS, but there is also a vaccine available to prevent HIV infection. There isn’t.

Theatre Cares Vancouver has been raising funds and awareness since 1991.

Without the generosity of the theatre patrons and the support of local theatre companies, both large and small, Theatre Cares would not be able to do the work that it does. Our fundraising over the years has benefited PAL Vancouver, the Coast Foundation, Triage Emergency Services & Care Society, Camp Moomba, PEERS Vancouver, Electric Company and the Positive Women’s Network, a partnership of women living with HIV/AIDS in British Columbia.

Theatre Cares Vancouver is a volunteer-based organization that unites the generous spirit of Vancouver’s performing arts community with its supporters to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS relief and other worthy causes.

For more information, please contact:
Diane Brown,
Chair, Theatre Cares Committee
diane@rubyslippers.ca

So far this year, 2016, Theatre Cares Vancouver has raised $15,316.45 in donations from the generous audiences of The Arts Club Theatre. A sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to them, and all of the Arts Club staff, for helping us raise money for our important charities.

“It is quite remarkable that you raise so much money year after year and allocate a hefty amount to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. I know many people who work in the theatre and its often done more as a labour of love….so this thank you doesn’t begin to convey how wonderful I think you all are.

We sincerely appreciate the longstanding support of Theatre Cares Vancouver, which has become so critical to the grassroots organizations that are turning the tide of AIDS in Africa.

…Let’s start with the obvious. Meeting the basic needs is a critical piece that cannot be ignored: children are in school, grandmothers have housing and food, people living with HIV and AIDS have access to home-based care, and women who experience sexual violence are supported.

But this is not the whole picture. Resilience is the word….it is not quantifiable and its not yet tracked by any international donors or funders. Not yet. But soon. The Stephen Lewis Foundation is in the midst of extensive consultation with our community-based partners to develop resilience-focussed Impact Assessment Framework. This would allow us to encourage and support people to do more, to allow them to live meaningful lives. To get them to the point where they realize that they have the energy and the capacity to do more. Get them to a place where they can see their future…” Stephen Lewis Foundation, Janet Solberg.

“…with your support we are able to continue helping entertainment industry members and their families through difficult times..with over $460,000 to aid professionals in times of need, through their injury and illness…” Actors Fund of Canada, David Hope

“On behalf of the members and the staff, I would like to say how appreciative and honoured we are that you chose Positive Living Society BC….you support goes to our Health and Wellness program, which offers a naturopathic clinic, dental hygiene and educational workshops for our members living with HIV. This program is constantly growing…another direct impact of your donation is our Healing Retreats which provide therapeutic workshops, meaningful peer connections and healthy recreation in a beautiful natural environment twice a year.” Positive Living of BC, Val Nicholson.

World Aids Day, Dec. 1, 2015, Vancouver, B.C. — Theatre Cares Vancouver is proud to announce that this year Theatre Cares raised an astonishing $27,000 for our charities. Huge thanks to The Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver Opera Association and Bard on the Beach.

Theatre Cares annually provides the performing arts community a chance to raise funds for important charities. Donations are collected at all participating theatres. This year’s mission was to raise funds and awareness for the Actors’ Fund of Canada, the Performing Arts Lodge which provides safe and affordable homes for people in the creative community, AIDS Vancouver, Positive Living B.C., and the Stephen Lewis Foundation, an organization dedicated to the relief of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.

Theatre Cares Vancouver is a volunteer-run organization of professional theatre artists who have been raising awareness and funds since 1991 for people in our community living with challenges including HIV/AIDS. Throughout each year, Theatre Cares raises money at different local theatres, whose generous patrons give donations.

Finding money to keep much-needed programs going in our performing arts community and larger community is not the only obstacle. Education appears to be sorely lacking as well, particularly for those living with HIV/Aids. In 2004, the Canadian AIDS Society reported that a large number of youth believe there is not only a cure for HIV/AIDS, but there is also a vaccine available to prevent HIV infection. There isn’t.

JOIN US! The Theatre Cares Vancouver web site will list all participating theatres and provide links to their sites and/or to purchase tickets so people can find out at a glance where they can go to see a great show and also donate to a worthy cause. Vancouver’s theatre artists and audiences have shown tremendous support in past years, and we thank you all sincerely.

Actors’ Fund of Canada www.actorsfund.ca
Stephen Lewis Foundation www.stephenlewisfoundation.org
Postive Living B.C. www.positivelivingbc.org
AIDS Vancouver www.aidsvancouver.org
Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver, www.palvancouver.org

Contact:
Diane Brown, Chair Theatre Cares Vancouver
diane@rubyslippers.ca