The Rock Makes ‘Historic’ Donation to SAG-AFTRA Foundation Relief Fund

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is helping out his fellow SAG members during the strike, making a major donation to the guild’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program. Variety reports that the actor and WWE star made a seven figure donation to the fun, which is used to provide financial relief to a number of the union’s members and is being used to help them out during the current strike.

SAG-AFTRA Foundation Courtney B. Vance spoke to the outlet about the donation, noting that shortly after a letter was sent to the union’s members calling for people to help, Johnson’s team reached out and Vance ended up on a call with Johnson. Vance noted that the exact amount is being kept confidential and noted, “It was a love fest. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a way that is allowing others to know the dire necessity of it.’ This is him saying, ‘In such a time as this, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, whatever you need me to do.’ And that sends a huge message to other folks to do the same thing.”

Grants from the foundation deliver up to $1,500 to each individual member, and in extreme conditions like health issues or other situations where an actor is in serious jeopardy a lifetime member can receive up to $6,000 in assistance. SAG-AFTRA Foundation executive director Cyd Wilson noted that the donation was “the largest single donation that we’ve ever received from one individual at one time. And what is amazing is that that one check is going to help thousands of actors keep food on their table, and keep their kids safe, and keep their cars running. And it’s not lost on me that he’s very humble about this, but it is a way to get us started.”

Vance added, “It is a call to arms for all of us to know that we just have to step up however you can. If your step up is $10, step up. Because that $10 is going to help somebody. If it’s $10,000, if it’s $10 million, step up, because we have to. Everyone knows what happens when you go on strike, when you stand for something — as the saying goes, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything — you can’t stand unless you have support underneath you, on the side, up top and up front. So Dwayne is letting everyone know, ‘I’m here. What are you going to do?’”