Fund For Laid Off Upright Citizens Brigade Staff Raises $40K

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — A crowdfunding effort has raised more than $40,000 in one day for Upright Citizens Bridgade theater staff, who were laid off en masse after the Hell's Kitchen improv theater shut down to adhere to social distancing measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in New York City.

Former UCB staff members set up the fund Wednesday on GoFundMe and have since modified the target fundraising goal three times due to the massive response.

"After the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and Training Center conducted mass layoffs this week we (house managers, box office, front desk, registrars, line control, techs) were left without the resources we need to survive. Right now we need help with funds so we can pay our rent, buy groceries, pay for medications, and survive during this trying time," organizers wrote.

Fund organizers added in a later update that they have been "overwhelmed" with the massive show of support in a short span of time. As of this writing, 554 donors have contributed $43,316.

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Upright Citizens Brigade laid off theater staffs in New York City and Los Angeles on Tuesday, comedy reported Seth Simons first reported. Simons obtained a letter sent to staff members by UCB Chief Financial Officer Daryl La Fountain that explained: "This decision was not an easy one and the Company reviewed all options available before deciding to conduct these layoffs."

La Fountain's email to staff members explained that final wages and unused paid time off would be paid to staff on Friday, March 20. The message did not include information about severance pay, Simons reported.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner. You can check out the fundraiser by following this link.