MPTF’s “Evening Before” Brings Hollywood’s Biggest Names Together to Raise Nearly $3 Million

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. – September 14, 2026 – Television’s biggest night took place in West Hollywood, Calif., on September 13, when Emmy® Awards nominees and presenters, along with some of the most powerful entertainment industry influencers, joined together for MPTF’s 20th annual “Evening Before” benefit.

Co-Chaired by Stephen Colbert & Evelyn McGee Colbert, Janelle James, and Lisa Kudrow, the annual event raised nearly $3 million.

“The original trailblazers in Hollywood who built our line of work are the ones who started MPTF, over 105 years ago. We all know how you can have the rug pulled out from under you without warning – we see it with wildfires, the strikes, being between jobs when you just need to put food on the table and make car payments,” said co-chair Janelle James. “Our family is so much bigger than who’s with us tonight – all the crew members and the creatives who work so hard to entertain and inform viewers all over the world… We get to be here to represent every person, every family, who dedicates their lives to bringing joy and escapism to the world, through film and television, and to help MPTF raise nearly $3 million.”

Co-chair Lisa Kudrow noted, “Most of the people we work with are going gig to gig, and that is both the excitement and uncertainty of what we do. MPTF is there when people in our community need support, and tonight is a chance to celebrate the work everyone in our TV family has been doing and help make sure that support is there when needed.”

Funds raised will help MPTF continue to provide essential support and services to working and retired entertainment industry members in need. Crew members and their families who survive in a job-by-job economy can struggle with basic needs like rent, utilities, medical bills, and groceries even in the best of times, which is where MPTF’s emergency financial services and dedicated social services team are vital to provide a lifeline to those who need it. The past five years have been especially challenging from the pandemic to the work stoppage to wildfire relief, production issues, and personal crises, and MPTF is here to help with a safety net of services.

“Reaching the two-decade Evening Before milestone speaks to how much it means to the industry across generations. It’s not just a perfect opportunity for TV’s finest to connect and unwind in the final stretch of the awards seasons, but a crucial part of making sure MPTF and the services so many industry workers need will be there when times get rough. Everyone from our co-chairs to our sponsors to our attendees deserves applause for keeping our safety net sustained now and tomorrow,” said MPTF CEO Bob Beitcher.

The 20th Annual “Evening Before” Host Committee consisted of Malin Akerman, Lucia Aniello, Patrick Ball, Ike Barinholtz, Quinta Brunson, Linda Cardellini, Bryan Cranston & Robin Dearden, Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy, Taylor Dearden, Paul W. Downs, Sally Field, Richard Gadd, Brett Goldstein, Grace Gummer, David Harbour, Shawn & Kelly Hatosy, Gerran Howell, Chase Infiniti, Josh Johnson, Lisa Joy & Jonathan Nolan, Paul Anthony Kelly, Jimmy Kimmel & Molly McNearney, Katherine LaNasa & Grant Show, Charles Melton & Camille Summers-Valli, Sepideh Moafi, Tom Pelphrey & Kaley Cuoco, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Rhea Seehorn, and Michael Urie.

The Executive Host Committee included Ravi Ahuja, Bela Bajaria, Casey Bloys, Paul Buccieri, George Cheeks, Matt Cherniss, Channing Dungey, Craig Erwich, Peter Friedlander, Megan Haller & Peter Rice, Alison Hoffman, Pearlena Igbokwe, Liz Jenkins, Dan McDermott, Debra O’Connell, Francesca Orsi, Katherine Pope, Erin Underhill, and Rob Wade.

This year’s presenting sponsors were Delta Air Lines, PEOPLE, and UCLA Health, with additional support from Diamond sponsors Apple TV, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Among the celebrities who attended this year’s event were Adam DeVine, Adam Pally, Alan Cumming, Alex Borstein, Amy Brenneman, Amy Poehler, Andrew Rannells, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Bob Odenkirk, Brianne Howey, Brittany Allen, Brittany Snow, Brooks Nader, Cara Buono, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Carlos Manuel Vesga, Carrie Coon, Chris Perfetti, Christopher McDonald, Constance Zimmer, Cynthia Nixon, D’Arcy Carden, Dale Dickey, Dan Bucatinsky, Danielle Deadwyler, David Boreanaz, David Alan Grier, David Dastmalchian, Derek Hough, Desi Lydic, Don Cheadle, Edward James Olmos, Edwin Lee Gibson, Emmy Rossum, Fiona Dourif, Helen Hunt, Isa Briones, Jackie Tohn, Jane Seymour, Jason Ritter, Jeff Hiller, Jeff Kober, Jessica Williams, Joy Sunday, Julianne Nicholson, Jurnee Smollett, Karolina Wydra, Kathy Hilton, Katie Lowes, Ken Jeong, Kristin Davis, Krys Marshall, Lauren Weedman, Lisa Ann Walter, Lukita Maxwell, Madison Bailey, Melanie Lynskey, Michael Peña, Michael Chiklis, Michael Nouri, Michael Cimino, Miranda Cosgrove, Miriam Shor, Natalie Alyn Lind, Nathan Fielder, Nick Kroll, Noah Wyle, Paul Scheer, Richard Jenkins, Richard Kind, Riz Ahmed, Rob Morrow, Ronny Chieng, Rufus Sewell, Samba Schutte, Sarah Pidgeon, Scott MacArthur, Seoyeon Jang, Seth Green, Shabana Azeez, Shailene Woodley, Simon Helberg, Stephen Root, Thomas Doherty, Tiffany Haddish, Tim Allen, Timothy Simons, Tony Hale, Tracy Letts, Tyler James Williams, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Whitney Cummings, William Stanford Davis, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II., and many more.

This year’s “Evening Before” benefit transformed the Pacific Design Center’s outdoor plaza into an elevated courtyard inspired by the beauty and warm hues of the California desert. Open-air pavilions created a welcoming gathering space honoring the entertainment community that MPTF has supported for 105 years. The event space was designed by Studio Komorebi, with specialty food provided by Carmelized Productions by Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo.

(Images Courtesy of Getty Images for MPTF)