Skip to content
Harold Matzner
  • Home
  • Film Festival
  • Palm Springs
  • Press

charity

Palm Springs International Film Awards To Present Bill Nighy With The International Star Award, Actor

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022 by Harold Matzner
Bill Nighy - Aliona Adrianova Coloured Heashot 1

The Palm Springs InternationalFilm Awards has announced that Bill Nighy is the recipient of the International Star Award, Actor for Living. The Film Awards will …

Read more

Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs film fest, philanthropist, philanthropist psiff, psiff

Palm Springs International Film Awards Gala Tables, Seats & Passes Are Now on Sale

August 30, 2022 by Harold Matzner
Palm Springs International Film Awards Gala Tables, Seats & Passes Are Now on Sale

After two years off due to Covid, the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala is back and tables, seats, and passes are all on …

Read more

Categories Blog Tags charity, coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropy

“Harold Matzner: The Brilliant Enigma” from Palm Springs Life Magazine

August 9, 2022August 8, 2022 by Harold Matzner
“Harold Matzner: The Brilliant Enigma” from Palm Springs Life Magazine

Part 2 of Palm Springs Life Magazine’s profile of Harold Matzner focuses on the Palm Springs International Film Festival. With quotes from colleagues, fellow board …

Read more

Categories Blog Tags charity, coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy

Harold Matzner: An Oral History

August 1, 2022 by Harold Matzner
Harold Matzner

If you’ve ever wondered about Harold’s childhood, what his home life is like (hint: dog-filled), or how amazingly busy his schedule is, this article Palm …

Read more

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

Happy Birthday Harold!

July 27, 2022July 4, 2022 by Harold Matzner
Harold

Happy Birthday, Harold! (Yes, he really was born on the 4th of July.) As we celebrate 85 wonderful years, it’s time to revisit (and laugh …

Read more

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

Successful Annenberg Theater Opening Delights an Enthusiastic Crowd

December 14, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Harold Matzner and fellow high-profile sponsors like Donna MacMillan and Arlene & Jordan Schnitzer were treated by a spectacular act from singer-actress Megan Hilty at the theater’s opening …

Read more

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

“Special Thanks Given to Harold Matzner for 15 years of supporting Pets on Parade”

August 1, 2016June 21, 2016 by Harold Matzner

by Frances Allen “There are no bad dogs, just bad owners.” One need look no farther than the 18th annual “Pets On Parade Awards” luncheon …

Read more

Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, palm springs, pets on parade, philanthropist

Harold Matzner Among Co-Chairs for the “One Night Only” event benefitting Jewish Family Services of the Desert.

August 1, 2016May 20, 2016 by Harold Matzner

One of the desert’s most colorful celebrities, Michael Childers, has done it again. Last week’s  “One Night Only” all-star performance posted its “sold out” sign for the …

Read more

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

Harold Matzner: Distinguished Honoree At Sunday Night Fever 2016

August 1, 2016May 20, 2016 by Harold Matzner

 ACT for MS, a local non-profit that provides therapy sessions, mobility assistance and other special support programs for free to those suffering with Multiple Sclerosis, …

Read more

Categories Press Tags charity, harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs film fest, palm springs international film fest, philanthropist, psiff, shortfest

Harold Matzner honored by Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

August 1, 2016May 20, 2016 by Harold Matzner

If you have not toured Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs, you have not seen all of the desert’s truly unique attractions. It is …

Read more

Categories Press Tags cabots museum, cabots pueblo museum, charity, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist

Harold Matzner Gives Crowd A Good Reason To Applaud At McCallum Birthday Luncheon

August 1, 2016April 1, 2016 by Harold Matzner

The 28th Annual On-Stage Birthday Luncheon benefiting the Muses & Patroness Circle of the McCallum Theatre demonstrated why theater is such an amazing and exciting …

Read more

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

Harold Matzner Joins Other Palm Spring Celebs In The Buzz’s Birthday Celebration

August 1, 2016January 27, 2016 by Harold Matzner

In addition, the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a free Taste of Palm Springs, with local restaurants providing tasty small bites to the …

Read more

Categories Press Tags charity, desert hot springs, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist, taste of palm springs

Harold Matzner attends dedication of “End of Day Boat” at Eisenhower Medical Center

August 1, 2016January 17, 2016 by Harold Matzner

By Betty Francis Great works of art always have a colorful history and the one now on permanent display at Eisenhower Medical Center is no …

Read more

Categories Press Tags charity, eisenhower medical center, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist

Harold Matzner Sponsors Croatian Girls Choir Performance At Event

August 1, 2016January 17, 2016 by Harold Matzner

By Vicki Blythin “Holiday in Palm Springs,” an event held and sponsored by the Hyatt Palm Springs, featured the global singing sensations, “Little Stars,” an …

Read more

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

Harold Matzner Helps Star Power Take Stage At Gala

August 1, 2016January 3, 2016 by Harold Matzner

By Bruce Fessier Fans lined the street across from the Palm Springs Convention Center, waiting for a glimpse of the stars being honored Saturday at …

Read more

Categories Press Tags bryan cranston, charity, harold matzner, johnny depp, palm springs film fest, palm springs international film fest, philanthropist
Older posts
Page1 Page2 Next →
Load More
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.

Categories

  • Film Festival
  • Press
  • Palm Springs
  • Spencer’s
  • McCallum

Archived Posts

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.

Follow Us:

Categories

  • Film Festival
  • Press
  • McCallum
  • Palm Springs
  • Spencer’s

Recent Posts

  • The McCallum Theatre Announces Yvonne Bell as New CEO and Launches 2025-2026 Season Tickets June 13, 2025
  • Spring Philanthropy Round-Up June 11, 2025
  • Date Change: 2026 Palm Springs International Film Awards Moved To January 3 April 30, 2025
© 2025 Harold Matzner All rights reserved.
Next Page »