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During these uniquely difficult times, laughter is needed more than ever, and no one would have been better suited for the task than Ron Baham if he were with us today. In honor of the lasting friendships and connections that Ron made possible, and with a nod to Ron's television comedy writing passion, The Ron Baham Memorial Scholarship in Comedy, originally founded in 1997, provides annual awards to screenwriting students at who show artistic merit in comedy television writing at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Your support can make a difference for our next generation of comedy writers to follow in Ron's footsteps and make a difference in television entertainment.
Ron Baham brought laughter and love to all, and remains sorely missed since he passed away. He was a dynamic, popular, talented, and charismatic soul with what many recognized as a movie star voice. Many of the connections and introductions he made for others have become lifelong through today. Ron was a rare individual who led by example, cared with compassion, and offered nothing short of genuine friendship for all who crossed his path. He was uniquely courageous in a time when it was nearly unheard of for an African American man to belong to a Jewish fraternity during his time at UCLA. After graduating, Ron began his illustrious career in the entertainment industry as a talent agent for CAA. His love of comedy would later catapult him into the role of Director of Current TV at Disney by the age of 30, overseeing production on numerous series including Home Improvement, Life's Work, Brotherly Love, Unhappily Ever After, Buddies, Empty Nest, and Blossom. Throughout his career at Disney, Ron was a champion for diversity and inclusion, helping to hire and train minorities in his division.
The Ron Baham Memorial Scholarship in Comedy honors his legacy and passion for sitcom television writing, supports talented students to follow in Ron’s footsteps and helps alleviate the burden of their tuition, impacting their wellbeing, fulfillment, and success through their academic journey and thereafter. A screenwriting education at TFT enables talented creatives to join the entertainment industry’s most coveted writers' rooms.
Join us in celebrating Ron’s selfless compassion, laughter, and friendship with a charitable contribution to reach our goal of endowing the Ron Baham Memorial Scholarship in Comedy to champion our TFT screenwriters. In real world terms of impact, for every ten dollars given, a student can work one less hour in a work-study job. Through your generosity, you can preserve and celebrate comedic storytelling so we may emerge from this significant hardship stronger than before. In the last weeks of 2020, we received so many heartfelt gifts of support, culminating 78% of our goal to raise $110,000, in large part thanks to generous gifts from Allan and Nicole Mutchnik, the Winkler Family Foundation, and The Smidt Foundation. As we begin this new chapter, please continue to help us by sharing this campaign link wide and far and cultivating this community of giving. Together, we can help students pursue their dream career in television, continue Ron's legacy and take this award to new heights for generations to come! To learn more about our hopes of endowing this fund so that it may provide funding for the next generation of comedic voices, visit uclafoundation.org/disclosures for endowment management information.
Honor Ron's talented legacy of comedic screenwriting with a gift of $1,000 and lay a path for the next writer to bring their dream to fruition.
Here's to when it began! Born in 1963, Ron Baham would spend his life befriending many and inspiring others. May his memory live on and friendships continue!
With a $2,500 gift, a screenwriting student can be outfitted with all the necessary tools to get that script perfected for pitching to the industry.