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McCallum Theatre’s 2019 annual gala, featuring Seal, is a night to remember

December 18, 2019 by Harold Matzner
McCallum Theatre’s 2019 annual gala, featuring Seal, is a night to remember

The annual gala at McCallum Theatre brought in upwards of $1.5 million, which will go to support operations, education, and community activities. Harold Matzner was …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, mccallum theatre, McCallum Theatre annual gala, seal

Coachella Valley Philanthropist Ronald Auen, Who Led Berger and Auen Foundations, Dies

November 12, 2019November 12, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Coachella Valley mourned the loss of Ronald Auen, one of the area’s biggest philanthropists. Harold Matzner, fellow philanthropist and Chairman of The Palm Springs International …

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Categories Press Tags coachella valley, harold matzner, mccallum theatre, palm springs, palm springs international film fest, ronald auen

McCallum Theatre unveils new season to founders, benefactors

April 8, 2019 by Harold Matzner

The Tamarisk Country Club played host to around 250 of the McCallum Theatre’s closest admirers and innermost family (its founders and benefactors) as the next …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, mccallum theatre, palm springs, tamarisk country club

Muses & Patroness Circle of McCallum Theatre Casino Royale – A Supreme Happening

March 12, 2019 by Harold Matzner

The McCallum Theatre Muses & Patroness Circle’s fundraising event Casino Royale–A Supreme Happening came complete with Blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em, roulette, and a vintage James …

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Categories Press Tags casino royale, harold matzner, mccallum theatre, McCallum Theatre Muses & Patroness Circle, palm springs, spencer's restaurant

One Night Only Nears $2 Million For JFS Desert

May 15, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The McCallum Theatre hosted the JFS Desert’s “One Night Only” finale, which is one of three fundraisers meant to benefit the non-profit that provides critically …

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Categories Press Tags "one night only", coachella valley, Jewish Family Service of the Desert, jfs desert, mccallum theatre

Muses & Patroness Circle Of McCallum Theatre On-Stage Birthday Luncheon, Pretty In Pink

May 15, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The 30th annual Pretty in Pink luncheon hosted by the Muses & Patroness Circle at McCallum Theatre was pink down to the performers, the outfits, …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, mccallum theatre, Muses & Patroness Circle, muses and patroness, philanthropists, philanthropy, pretty in pink

The Valley’s Top Philanthropist Gets Honored At McCallum Theatre’s 30th Anniversary

October 25, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Ten Tenors, some of the most popular performers in McCallum Theatre’s history, will perform at its 30th Anniversary fundraising Gala on November 30th. Coachella …

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Categories Press Tags coachella valley, harold matzner, mccallum theatre, philanthropist, The Ten Tenors

McCallum’s 30th Anniversary Continues With Family Fun Day

November 8, 2017August 8, 2017 by Harold Matzner

As part of their 30th anniversary celebrations, McCallum Theatre’s 6th Annual Family Fun Day kicked off with about 1,000 attendees (half of them children), complete …

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Categories Press Tags family fun day, harold matzner, mccallum, mccallum theatre

The Theme This Year for Muses and Patroness Circle Birthday Luncheon: “Under the Big Top”

May 19, 2017May 13, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Muses And Patroness Circle’s 29th Annual Birthday luncheon at the McCallum Theatre took on a circus theme, complete with popcorn, jugglers, clowns, magicians, and even …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, mccallum, mccallum theatre, muses, muses and patroness

Jewish Family Service of the Desert’s annual One Night Only – “Hello Jerry” (celebrating the music of Jerry Herman)

May 3, 2017April 29, 2017 by Harold Matzner

One of the biggest fundraisers for the Jewish Family Service of the Desert, the 90-minute musical tribute to Jerry Herman hit all the high notes …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, Jewish Family Service of the Desert, jfs, Lucie Arnaz, mccallum, mccallum theatre, Michael Childers, One Night Only – Hello Jerry

Sneak Previews of Upcoming Season Given at Founders and Benefactors Reception for McCallum Theatre

April 20, 2017April 8, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Chairman Harold Matzner joined Theatre President Mitch Gershenfeld, BIGHORN Chairman R.D. Hubbard, and his wife Joan Dale Hubbard at McCallum Theatre’s Annual Founders and Benefactors …

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Categories Press Tags BIGHORN, harold matzner, mccallum theatre

Spectacular Night Hosted by Muses & Patroness Circle of McCallum Theatre

March 8, 2017February 11, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The gold-themed event consisted of prize-giveaways, a luxuriously catered three-course meal, and musical performances. Sponsors included JoAnn McGrath, Jaishri and Raju Mehta, Barbara Waddell, and …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, mccallum theatre, Muses & Patroness Circle, solid gold

Harold Matzner Joined by Fellow Community Leaders at McCallum Event

December 28, 2016December 24, 2016 by Harold Matzner

MARC GLASSMAN, SPECIAL TO THE DESERT SUN Harold Matzner and community leaders Dennis Washington and Greg Renker were seen exchanging notes at a recent McCallum …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, mccallum, mccallum theatre, 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

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 …

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