HG Lighting Design Announces Year-Round Donations to Behind the Scenes

Lighting designer Herrick Goldman, principal of HG Lighting Design, recently announced that he will be donating a portion of his design fees throughout the year to the Behind the Scenes charity. He is the first designer to make an ongoing pledge of a portion of design fee profits to the charity. Designers have previously pledged a day's royalties as well as generously made individual donations, but Goldman is the first designer to pledge a portion of profits in an ongoing manner and becomes the charity's first Pledge-a-Service Partner.

HG Lighting Design provides lighting services for a wide variety of markets including theater, dance, and corporate events, as well as for permanent installations and museums. Goldman, who designs all around the globe, has long been a supporter of the Behind the Scenes charity. "I have been very enthusiastic about the work of BTS since it began," Goldman comments. "I strongly believe in their mission and feel that we have to be there for our fellow members of the industry in their time of need. Throughout the years I have always donated at their trade show events, bought raffle tickets, and attended their cocktail party fundraisers. For a little while now I have been looking for a way to offer more ongoing support. When I met with Behind the Scenes to discuss different possibilities, this idea came up and I knew it was the right one for HG Lighting Design. I am very proud to be the first designer to make this type of design fee profit pledge in this ongoing manner to Behind the Scene."

Rick Rudolph, chair of the Behind the Scenes Foundation, states, "Herrick Goldman has been supportive both as a donor and as an advocate of the charity and its important mission for a number of years. It seems fitting that he would be the designer to make this first pledge of year-round support with a portion of his design fee profits. Like our Pledge-A-Product program, which has been successful for manufacturers looking for an ongoing BTS donation option, we hope that the Pledge-a-Service program will be the start of another successful donation option for designers, consultants, installers, and others who offer professional services to the industry."

Charitable work is not new to Goldman who for many years worked with the Harrison, New York Volunteer Ambulance Corps as well as helping establish a volunteer emergency response team at SUNY Purchase. He has also donated his time and design services as his schedule allowed to various fundraising events. For the past 13 years, he has lit the Covenant House benefits for at risk youth in New York, New Jersey, Detroit, Atlanta, Florida, and Maryland. He worked with the Actor's Fund on their benefit shows-The Best Little Whorehouse and The Who's Tommy 15th Anniversary Concert, as well as working on numerous Rockers on Broadway benefits in the past decade which benefit the Path Fund.

"I look forward to being able to present BTS my first check at the LDI trade show in Las Vegas this November," says Goldman. "I'm just glad that I am fortunate enough to be in a position to be able to help people in our industry that have a need."

The Behind the Scenes charity provides financial support to entertainment technology industry professionals who are seriously ill or injured or to their surviving family members. Grants are tailored to each individual and uses can include basic living costs, medical related expenses, transportation, and funeral expenses. Behind the Scenes brings help and hope in times of great need.