The RESCU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to promote and maintain the health and medical well-being of the participants of Renaissance Faires, historical performances and other artistic events through financial assistance, advocacy, education and preventative programs.
For 12 years, the RESCU Foundation has offered direct financial assistance and medical advocacy to festival participants. RESCU serves all participants nationwide - what show or what type of position held is never a variable for eligibility. Variables affecting the financial outcome of cases are the client’s yearly income, the type of facility, the type of provider, where it occurred, and the amount of coverage. The five person Aid Panel discusses at length the unique features of each case to arrive at a fair decision. These decisions are never easy, and are made with great care and diligence.
RESCU can’t directly cover entire medical bills, yet has been able to show that type of success by helping connect to other programs (a little from them, a little from us). This type of networking is essential for cases involving hospital stays or procedures. When possible, RESCU empowers our clients by mentoring them to advocate for themselves, using peer guidance and encouragement for success. When a facility or provider accepts the terms of reduction, or a client is accepted into a program to reduce the cost of treatment, then RESCU has done its job.
Financial Assistance
We at RESCU are here to help. Financial assistance for your medical needs is available to you and your dependents if you have or have had a participant pass to a festival. Please fill out the Medical Aid Request Form and submit it, along with ALL PERTINENT MEDICAL BILLS, as per the instructions on the aid form.
Advocacy
Many cases RESCU receives are not that severe. In those instances, RESCU can better help the community by assessing if a client can be empowered with a mentor to advocate for themselves. If so, Clients can learn to navigate and explore all avenues to reduce their own medical bills. These skills can be applied again as needs arise. During this process, RESCU may grant some financial relief based on the level of need. More details.
As always, RESCU will assign an advocate for those who are physically or emotionally unable to advocate for themselves. A RESCU advocate will directly contact medical providers to reach the best possible settlement. During this process, RESCU may grant some financial relief based on the level of need.
Please visit our RESCU Programs page for further information on RESCU's various educational and assistance programs.
The name "RESCU" stands for: Renaissance Entertainers Services Crafters United. The pursuit of charity status was completed in 2003 and the RESCU Foundation, Inc. emerged in the spring of 2004 with a plan, a dream, and the endless energy of veteran participants of festivals.
Currently our Board of Directors allows seats for 15 members, which include actors, artisans, service workers and festival patrons dedicated to the medical health and well-being of our community. The RESCU Foundation, Inc. serves an average of 100 clients a year both with negotiating bills and financial assistance, with some cases classified as ongoing. The number of clients assisted has hit the 600 mark, which includes simple medical problems to long term cases.
To date RESCU has disbursed over $450,000 worth of medical aid, and in the last 4 years, our Advocacy Program has achieved nearly $3 million in medical bill abatement for our applicants.
(Updated 2/2015)
If you need help from RESCU, please read through this list of what RESCU does and does not do. Then, simply print and fill out our Medical Aid Request Form.
Then mail it, along with copies of all pertinent medical bills to:
Make automatic donations to Rescu Foundation Inc. while you shop—just use Giving Assistant.
