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Career Achievement Award to be Presented to Annette Bening at Palm Springs International Film Festival

December 15, 2016 by Harold Matzner

ANNETTE BENING TO RECEIVE CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT 28th ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM AWARDS GALA Palm Springs, CA (December 13, 2016) – …

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Categories Press Tags Annette Bening, harold matzner, palm springs, Palm Springs International Film Festival

Palm Springs International Film Festival Announces
 Awards Buzz Program

December 14, 2016 by Harold Matzner

PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS BUZZ PROGRAM Palm Springs, CA (December 5, 2016) – The 28th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), …

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

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 …

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

“Arrival” Star Amy Adams to be Presented With Chairman’s Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

December 20, 2016December 13, 2016 by Harold Matzner

AMY ADAMS TO RECEIVE CHAIRMAN’S AWARD AT 28th ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM AWARDS GALA Palm Springs, CA (December 9, 2016) – The …

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Categories Press Tags amy adams, harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs film fest, palm springs film festival, palm springs international film fest

Release of 2017 Palm Springs Animal Shelter Calendar Celebrated at Spencer’s and hosted by Harold Matzner

December 14, 2016December 10, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Priced at $20, the calendar features local heroes each paired with a beautiful animal.  All proceeds to go to animal care. Visit https://www.psanimalshelter.org/home to purchase a …

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Categories Press Tags desert sun, harold matzner, palm springs, spencers

Chairman of CBA Industries, Inc. and Renowned Philanthropist Harold B. Matzner to Receive 2017 Horatio Alger Award

March 6, 2017December 6, 2016 by Harold Matzner

  Chairman of CBA Industries, Inc. and Renowned Philanthropist Harold B. Matzner to Receive 2017 Horatio Alger Award Horatio Alger Association names 11 exceptional individuals, …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, horatio alger, horatio alger award, press release

Accomplished Business and Civic Leaders Selected for Prestigious 2017 Horatio Alger Award

December 8, 2016December 6, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Accomplished Business and Civic Leaders Selected for Prestigious 2017 Horatio Alger Award  Each year Horatio Alger Association honors esteemed leaders who have overcome significant adversities to …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, horatio alger, horatio alger award, john elway

Philanthropist Harold Matzner Gives Backstory That Notched Him 2017 Horatio Alger Award

December 7, 2016December 6, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Harold Matzner tells the tale of his start from humble beginnings to his current status as a full-time fundraising activist in Coachella Valley, the head of …

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Categories Press Tags cba industries, harold matzner, horatio alger award, palm springs

Donors Help Set Fundraising Record of More Than $1.5 Million at McCallum Gala

December 2, 2016December 1, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Featuring popular acts like Pink Martini and Dame Edna, the annual McCallum gala set a fundraising record with large donations from the likes of Harold …

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Categories Press Tags desert sun, harold matzner, mccallum theatre, palm desert, palm springs, pink flamingo, pink martini

Nicole Kidman to Receive International Star Award from PSIFF

December 14, 2016November 30, 2016 by Harold Matzner

NICOLE KIDMAN TO RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL STAR AWARD AT 28th ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM AWARDS GALA Palm Springs, CA (November 28, 2016) – …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, international star award, nicole kidman, palm springs, palm springs film fest, palm springs international film fest, psiff

Palm Springs International Film Festival Vanguard Award Announcement

November 29, 2016 by Harold Matzner

LIONSGATE’S LA LA LAND TO RECEIVE VANGUARD AWARD AT 28th ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM AWARDS GALA Palm Springs, CA (November 21, 2016) …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, la la land, palm springs international film fest, press release, psiff, vanguard award

National Philanthropy Day Honorary Chair Harold Matzner presents award to Bighorn Chairman R.D. Hubbard

November 29, 2016November 20, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Palm Spring’s best gathered to celebrate the tenth annual National Philanthropy Day event in the Desert, aimed at the greater goal of changing the world. Honorees …

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

Ruth Negga to Receive the Rising Star Award at 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala

December 14, 2016November 18, 2016 by Harold Matzner

RUTH NEGGA TO RECEIVE THE RISING STAR AWARD AT 28th ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM AWARDS GALA Palm Springs, CA (November 16, 2016) …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs international film fest, press release, psiff, rising star, ruth negga

Harold Matzner Sponsors the Palm Springs Walk of Stars 25th Anniversary Reunion

November 16, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Thanks to Harold Matzner’s help, the Palm Springs Walk of Stars 25th Anniversary Reunion was able to take place. The no-cost reunion brunch has struggled …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, matzner, palm springs walk of stars, walk of stars

Harold Matzner Says Farewell to Coachella Valley Icon Mel Haber

November 8, 2016October 28, 2016 by Harold Matzner

Coachella Valley icon Mel Haber passed away recently, but he left behind good memories and a lasting image. Restaurateur and philanthropist Harold Matzner called Haber …

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Categories Press Tags coachella valley, harold matzner, matzner, mel haber, philanthropist
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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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