Wells and his wife, Marilyn Wells, have put up $250,000 as a matching grant to the Emergency Fund. Wells reached out to fellow writer“The cast and crew that make it possible for us to make our very good livings are getting hammered, and we have to pull together to get through these difficult times and show we’re a community that cares about our coworkers!,” Wells wrote.
Underscoring writers’ strong sense of solidarity, Ray and Wells, who not always have been on the same side on WGA matters, teamed up to help those impacted by the pandemic. “Emails like this remind me how much goodness there is in this world… and in our community,” Rey wrote alongside Wells’ note. “God bless you, John and Marilyn…”
Donations have been pouring in since the private campaign was launched midday on Sunday, Within hours, the total raised reached $350,000. As one donor to the grant said, “No them, no us. We’re all in this together.” MPTF’s Emergency Relief Fund was started on March 24 to help those workers in the entertainment industry who are suffering COVID-19 related hardships, providing temporary financial assistance with issues including health insurance, mental health assistance, rent, food, and other essentials.