New York City - On Monday, April 12, The Actors Fund bestowed its highest honor, The Actors Fund Medal of Honor, on three campaign co-chairs in recognition of their commitment and leadership: Annette Bening, Jonathan Tisch and Kevin McCollum. The gala was held at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom.

Annette Bening, Warren Beatty.

The three honorees - Bening, McCollum and Tisch - led a campaign to raise $12.5 million to increase the reach of The Actors Fund's human services programs in this time of increased and evolving needs. "This is a collaborative effort," says Actors Fund President and noted actor/singer Brian Stokes Mitchell. "Together, we can ensure that those who work in performing arts and entertainment can sustain their careers - and our culture - while caring for themselves and their families. In these times, they have never needed us more." Adds Fund Executive Director Joe Benincasa, "We must ensure that those who dedicate themselves to these professions have the support they need to continue their creative work."

In addition to Bening, McCollum and Tisch, the Campaign boasts the commitment of a long list of arts leaders and performers who recognize the crucial need for expanded services for their colleagues and fellow workers. They include past Medal of Honor recipients Alec Baldwin, Rocco Landesman, James M. Nederlander, Stewart F. Lane, and Bonnie Comley, and industry professionals Stockard Channing, Marcia Gay Harden, Angela Lansbury, Bebe Neuwirth, Mike Nichols, Lynn Redgrave, Geoffrey Rush, Liz Smith, Jerry Stiller, Scott Rudin, and many more.

Jonathan Tisch, Lizzie Tisch, Lucy Liu, Paula Gallagher, and Peter Gallagher.

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone - performers and those behind the scenes - who work in performing arts and entertainment, helping close to 11,000 people directly each year, and hundreds of thousands online. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund's programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has - for over 125 years - been a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition.

For more information of The Actors Fund go to www.actorsfund.org.