By Design Day 2013 -- For Giving, Not Forgetting

By Design Day, the annual fundraising day for Behind the Scenes in the US and Canada and Light Relief in the UK, takes place this year on Wednesday, April 24 on both sides of the Atlantic.

One of the main fundraising events for these charities, By Design Day focuses attention on the various ways that individuals can support these two organizations which are dedicated solely to assisting entertainment technology professionals in need. Fundraising can be a personal donation or through an organized collection. Many designers support the day by voluntarily giving a day's royalties to one or both of these charities. Behind the Scenes aids professionals based in the US and Canada working in any area of the entertainment technology industry while Light Relief assists those involved in the UK lighting industry.

By Design Day 2013 has the full backing of a host of award-winning designers across a broad range of disciplines, including Neil Austin, Gregg Barnes, Ken Billington, Paule Constable, Wendall Harrington, Howard Harrison, Don Holder, David Korins, Derek McLane, Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen, Ken Posner, Jennifer Tipton and Hugh Vanstone, along with Light Relief's co-founder, Rick Fisher.

Light Relief Day was first organized in the UK six years ago to honor the memory of the charity's founder Tony Gottelier and quickly gained support. Two years later the US and Canada joined in, to raise funds for Behind the Scenes. Now By Design Day is supported internationally with donations from designers with productions all over the world. To date Light Relief has awarded more than £50,000 in grants to help lighting professionals and their families, while Behind the Scenes has issued over $325,000 in grants to professionals working in all disciplines.

See Behind the Scenes at PLASA Focus: Orlando, May 15-16.