The main fundraising event for these charities, By Design Day focuses attention on the various ways that individuals can support the two organisations that are dedicated solely to helping entertainment technology professionals in need. Many make personal donations, some hold collections at their places of work and often designers support the day by voluntarily giving a day's royalties to one or both of these charities. Light Relief assists those involved in the UK lighting industry while Behind the Scenes aids professionals based in the US and Canada working in any area of the entertainment technology industry.
By Design Day 2012 has the full backing of a host of award-winning designers, including Neil Austin, Ken Billington, Paule Constable, Wendall Harrington, Howard Harrison, Don Holder, David Korins, Scott Lehrer, Ken Posner, Jennifer Tipton and Hugh Vanstone, along with Light Relief's co-founder, Rick Fisher.
Light Relief Day was first organised in the UK five years ago to honour the memory of the charity's founder Tony Gottelier and quickly gained support. Two years later the US and Canada joined in, to raise funds for Behind the Scenes. Now, By Design Day is supported internationally with donations from designers with productions all over the world. To date Light Relief has awarded more than £40,000 in grants to help lighting professionals and their families, while Behind the Scenes has issued over $230,000 in grants to professionals working in all disciplines.
(Jim Evans)
