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Harold Matzner

Harold Matzner Among Major Donors of Guide Dogs of the Desert’s Paws for Independence event at Spencer’s Restaurant

August 1, 2016December 6, 2015 by Harold Matzner

by Dodie Cross Things were certainly going to the dogs during this event, in fact they seemed to be ubiquitous. Over one hundred supporters and …

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Categories Press Tags desert's paws, guide dogs of the desert, harold matzner, palm springs

Harold Matzner Honorary Chair and Presenting Sponsor of National Philanthropy Day 2015 Event

August 1, 2016November 29, 2015 by Harold Matzner

Betty Francis In a community with over 800 charities and non-profits, there is a great deal of turnover. They come and go, with some becoming …

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Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, national philanthropist day, palm springs, philanthropist

McCallum President and CEO Mitch Gershenfeld and Chairman Harold Matzner Are Presented With a Check for the McCallum Theatre Institute by McCallum Muses

August 1, 2016November 22, 2015 by Harold Matzner

Cynthia Cottrell Picture a grand Rancho Mirage Mediterranean estate with a walk- way bridge over moat to the main entrance….this was the site of the …

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Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, mccallum theatre, philanthropist

Harold Matzner and Spencer’s Restaurant Give Back to Local Clubs Fore Kids

August 1, 2016October 25, 2015 by Harold Matzner

by Kathleen Bennett One of those perfect desert days with awesome weather and spectacular mountain views welcomed the fifth annual Clubs Fore Kids Charity Golf …

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Categories Press Tags boys & girls club, cubs fore kids, harold matzner, palm springs

Harold Matzner Among Platinum Sponsors at Agua Caliente Cultural Center’s Annual Dinner At the Canyons

August 1, 2016October 25, 2015 by Harold Matzner

by Robin Montgomery What signals the beginning of the gala season in the Coachella Valley? Dinner in the Canyons. This event is the major fundraiser …

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Categories Press Tags agua caliente, charity, harold matzner, philanthropist

Harold Matzner Raises A Paddle For Seattle Symphony

August 1, 2016September 21, 2015 by Harold Matzner

Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) opening night and gala on Sept. 19 broke all previous records, raising $785,000 for the symphony’s education programs and more, and …

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Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, philanthropist, seattle symphony

PSIFF Chairman Harold Matzner’s Welcome Letter to Attendees of ShortFest 2015

August 1, 2016June 1, 2015 by Harold Matzner

Welcome to our showcase of the filmmakers of the future. You’re about to embark on a dazzling journey of discovery within the walls of the …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs film fest, palm springs international film fest, psiff, shortf

Matzner Among Top Sponsors at Aids Assistance Program’s Annual Evening Under the Stars Event

August 1, 2016May 17, 2015 by Harold Matzner

By DeAnn Lubell-Ames The AIDS Assistance Program’s 22nd annual Evening Under the Stars — voted as one of the best fundraising events in the Coachella …

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Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist

Harold Matzner Among Honorary Co-Chairs and Platinum Sponsors of Jewish Family Services Annual One Night Only Event

August 1, 2016May 3, 2015 by Harold Matzner

By Betty Francis The name of this annual event could be “One Night Only — Sold Out” because that’s what the signs say every year, …

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Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, jfs, palm springs, philanthropist

Harold Matzner Gives Matching Donation To Purchase New Vans for Mizell Senior Center

August 1, 2016April 19, 2015 by Harold Matzner

By Chris Foster The Mizell Senior Center’s 10th annual “Stars Among Us” gala was held at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Marilyn McCoo and Billy …

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Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, mizell, palm springs, philanthropist, vans

McCallum Theatre Chairman Harold Matzner Grand Marshal Top Sponsor for Muses Denim to Diamonds Event

August 1, 2016April 5, 2015 by Harold Matzner

By Betty Francis The country-western gods smiled down upon the McCallum Theatre’s Muses last week, providing perfect weather and a magnificent sunset for their Denim …

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Harold Matzner Among Double Platinum Sponsors for Palm Springs Art Museum 2015 Gala Honoring Dr. Steven Nash

August 1, 2016March 22, 2015 by Harold Matzner

By Betty Francis A new day has dawned at the Palm Springs Art Museum and the forecast is “bright and sunny.” Last week’s event, Gala …

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Tools for Tomorrow Honors Harold Matzner

August 1, 2016March 15, 2015 by Harold Matzner

By Betty Francis Another charity honored philanthropist Harold Matzner this month which may not make them unique, but let me tell you about this charity. …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, the desert sun, tools for tomorrow

Harold Matzner Among Major Contributors to the Ike Wing at Eisenhower Medical Center

August 1, 2016February 1, 2015 by Harold Matzner

By Barbara Lowell There may have been a blizzard brewing back east this week, but here in the desert, an avalanche of financial support snowballed …

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Categories Press Tags charity, eisenhower medical center, harold matzner, philanthropist, the desert sun

Harold Matzner Joins In Celebrating Eisenhower Center’s Chihuly Installation

June 14, 2016January 31, 2015 by Harold Matzner

One of Eisenhower Medical Center’s supporting commitments is to provide a healing environment for all patients, visitors and staff. Through a generous donation by Eisenhower …

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Harold Matzner
Entrepreneur, humanitarian, and philanthropist, Harold Matzner, has made his home in the desert for more than 30 years. The owner of Palm Spring’s popular Spencer’s Restaurant and CEO of a NY/NJ based branding, advertising and marketing company, Harold is credited with revitalizing the Palm Springs International Film Festival and founding the successful business concept of targeted “shared mail”.
In 2017, the year of his 80th birthday, Harold was one of the eleven men and women selected nationally by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans as a member and inducted by Judge Clarence Thomas in the courtroom of the United States Supreme Court. Harold was also honored with a special 24-standard page birthday section in the The Desert Sun and a two-part front page story in Palm Springs Life in the November and December editions. He was honored in November 2017 by the General Patton Memorial Museum with the dedication of the Matzner Tank Pavilion and three World War II operating tanks, and in the same month was honored by the McCallum Theatre for 10 years of service as Chairman and for being the first person to give the Theatre $5 million or more.
He also rescued and revived the world famous Palm Springs Tennis Club and turned its lunchroom into Spencer’s, one of the City’s hottest see-and-be-seen restaurants. Spencer’s is named after his beloved 110-pound Siberian husky. Mr. Matzner is in his 11th year as the Chairman of the Board of the McCallum Theatre, his 14th year as Chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and is the long-time Executive Vice Chairman of the Palm Springs Art Museum. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Eisenhower Medical Center and Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. He also chairs several charity fundraising events each year.
He has received many awards from the charities that he supports. He has been honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the “Philanthropist of the Year”, and for the past six years he has served as Honorary Chair of the local National Philanthropy Day event. He has also been recognized by Gilda’s Club as the “Man of the Year”, by the McCallum Muses as “Man of the Year”, the City of Palm Springs with the “Richard M. Milanovich Community Service Award”, as “Angel of the Year” by Angel View Children’s Foundation, as “Businessperson of the Year” by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Waring “Lifetime Achievement Award”, “Richard M. Milanovich Humanitarian Award” by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and by Desert Samaritan’s as “Samaritan of the Year”, and will be honored in May by the Coachella Valley Symphony, to name a few. Mr. Matzner has been a benefactor to many other non-profits, both here and on the East coast.
Mr. Matzner is one of the Palm Springs valley’s largest donors to philanthropy and has contributed more than $70 million to area non-profits since 2000. Among the many local charities benefiting from his philanthropic efforts are the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, AIDS Assistance Program, Desert Symphony, American Cancer Society, The Living Desert, Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, Coachella Valley Symphony, General Patton Memorial Museum, ACT for MS, College of the Desert, Eisenhower Medical Center, Desert AIDS Project, Desert Cancer Foundation, Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Jewish Family Services of the Desert, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), StandWithUs, Neuro Vitality Center, Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre, Temple Isaiah, Bighorn BAM (Behind a Miracle), Tools for Tomorrow, Palm Springs Air Museum, Mizell Senior Center, Well in the Desert, FIND Food Bank, Pegasus Riding Academy, LGBTQ The Center, Equality California, and the Human Rights Campaign.
He is credited with the key leadership role in creating Palm Springs’ Measure J (a 1% sales tax increase that has helped to fund a $200 million downtown revitalization program, while providing an additional surplus of $12 million per year to rebuild the city’s infrastructure). He is a community activist. He earns no money from any of his activities in Palm Springs, including his restaurant, Spencer’s.
Mr. Matzner’s star is located at the foot of his friend Sonny Bono’s statue in the heart of Palm Springs.

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Harold Matzner

In 2017, the year of his 80th birthday, Harold was one of the eleven men and women selected nationally by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans as a member and inducted by Judge Clarence Thomas.

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Recent Posts

  • A statement from the family of Harold Matzner September 10, 2025
  • Harold Matzner, Legendary Desert Philanthropist and Business Visionary, Dies at 88 in Palm Springs September 5, 2025
  • Spencer’s Restaurant Honored in Palm Springs Life’s Best of the Best Competition For The Third Year In A Row August 8, 2025
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