ORLANDO | The Greater Orlando Performing Arts Relief, aka GOPAR, is partnering with the Entertainment Community Fund to create a Member Assistance Program to benefit the greater Orlando area.
The groups announced their new partnership in a press release June 20.
The new partnership will allow the Entertainment Community Fund to issue the Emergency Financial Assistance Fund which was established by GOPAR in 2020 to help local performers that lost work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GOPAR, for its part is going to remain a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It will also shift the focus from administering local aid to acting as a fundraising engine to secure funding for the Emergency Assistance Fund.
GOPAR is an Orlando-based nonprofit organization that provides assistance to individuals that typically receive income from the performing arts and/or theme park entertainment sectors.
The Entertainment Community Fund is a national human services organization that tackles the needs of those who work in the performing arts and entertainment industries. The services provided focus on health & wellness, career & life, and housing.
In the release, GOPAR shared enthusiasm to be moving forward with the Entertainment Community Fund.
“We are excited to be working with a well-respected and well-known organization such as the Entertainment Community Fund to ensure our local artists and performers receive the support they require in times of need.” said recently appointed GOPAR Board Chair, Joseph Harrison of the new relationship with the Fund. “Shifting our fund administration operations to the Fund is a win-win – local artists benefit from the Fund’s well-established processes and GOPAR can focus our own efforts locally to help raise the funds needed to keep those awards available.”
Any Central Florida based individuals who meet the defined eligibility requirements can now request financial aid directly from the Fund. More information on GOPAR can be found here and information about aid eligibility and how to request assistance from the Fund can be accessed here.
