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United Way cancellation upsets Sarandon
The charity's scrapping of an event because of her antiwar views will hurt the needy, the actor says.
©Associated Press
March 29, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG -- Actor Susan Sarandon said Friday she was disturbed by a charity's decision to cancel her appearance at a fundraising event because of complaints about her opposition to the Iraq war.
The United Way of Tampa Bay was to feature the 56-year-old Academy Award winner at an April 11 women's leadership event designed to inspire volunteerism.
But organizers this week scrapped the $75-a-plate Tampa event after the charity got three dozen complaints about her antiwar views.
"Considering the depletion of federal funds for community programs and the faltering economy, it is disturbing to me that the United Way is letting partisanship determine its support base," Sarandon said in a statement. "Once again, the shortsightedness of the powerful will end up hurting those in need."
Others disagreed with the decision, too.
Marty Petty, executive vice president of Times Publishing Co., which publishes the St. Petersburg Times, resigned as a member of the United Way board of directors and chairwoman of the 2003 campaign.
Sarandon's brother, Terry Tomalin, outdoors writer at the Times, asked Sarandon to participate in the event six months ago.
Robin Carson, chairwoman of the United Way of Tampa Bay board, said the charity canceled the event because it had become "divisive" when its purpose was to promote volunteerism and bring the community together.
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