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Palm Springs Equality Awards marks 20 years of human rights activism

October 30, 2019 by Harold Matzner

The Riviera Palm Springs played host to the Palm Springs Equality Awards, which acknowledged support from the area’s biggest philanthropists and LGBTQ allies. Harold Matzner …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, lifetime ally award, pal springs equality awards, palm springs, riviera palm springs, senator barbara boxer

Reception honors nominees for the 13th annual National Philanthropy Day in the Desert awards

October 29, 2019 by Harold Matzner

This year’s nominees for the 13th annual National Philanthropy Day in the Desert were honored on a gorgeous day in a private reception in Palm Springs. …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, National Philanthropy Day, National Philanthropy Day in the Desert, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy

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

The Living Desert 26th Annual Zoobilee Gala ‘Party in the Outback’

March 25, 2019 by Harold Matzner

“Party In the Outback” was the theme for The Living Desert’s 26th Annual Zoobilee Gala this year, which previewed the new Australian habitat display opening …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, the Living Desert, zoobilee, zoobilee gala

Palm Springs Air Museum Casablanca To D-Day Gala

March 18, 2019 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs Air Museum was host to the black-tie “Casablanca to D-Day Rendezvous With History” event, where both vets and active service members were …

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Categories Press Tags Casablanca to D-Day Rendezvous With History, harold matzner, jim houston, palm springs, palm springs high school, The Palm Springs Air Museum, Tony Orlando

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

Palm Springs Art Museum Celebrates Its 80th Birthday

March 4, 2019February 28, 2019 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs Convention Center was the setting for a much-talked about 80th birthday bash thrown for The Palm Springs Art Museum. Decked out in …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, Palm Springs Convention Center, The Palm Springs Art Museum

The Palm Springs film festival is positioned to survive. L.A.’s didn’t. Here’s why

January 17, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Unlike other film festivals (like the LA Film Fest), the Palm Springs Film Festival has been able to withstand the test of time. With a …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, golden globes, harold matzner, oscar, palm springs

Dia De Los Muertos

November 6, 2018November 6, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Well In The Desert hosted a day of activities based around remembering loved ones and honoring their grave sites at Desert Memorial Park. Face painting, …

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Categories Press Tags city of cathedral, desert memorial park, dia de lost muertes, harold matzner, palm springs, well in the desert

National Charity League, Inc. Palm Springs Recognizes Graduating Seniors

May 21, 2018 by Harold Matzner

“Even miracles take a little time” was the theme for Senior Recognition, which included a formal brunch, an awards presentation, and a fashion show. Senior …

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Categories Press Tags Bougainvillea Room, harold matzner, national charity league, palm springs, senior recognition, spencer's restaurant

25th Anniversary Gala Evening Under The Stars

May 15, 2018 by Harold Matzner

One of Coachella Valley’s long-running and most popular events, The AAP – Food Samaritans 25th Annual Gala, Evening Under the Stars, took place at the Palm …

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Categories Press Tags aap, aap food samaritans, coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, spencers

Well In The Desert Says Thanks At Spencer’s

April 26, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The Bougainvillea Room at Spencer’s Restaurant was filled with 140 Well in the Desert supporters honoring Visionary Award winners for their work with the homeless.  The …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy, spencer's restaurant, spencers, well in the desert

A Soaring 50th Jubilee Gala Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert

March 27, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs Art Museum hosted almost 300 attendees at the 50th Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert Jubilee Gala, where a concert at …

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Categories Press Tags annenberg theater, desert jubilee gala, harold matzner, palm springs, Palm Springs Art Museum, palm springs opera guild, philanthropist

Children’s Discovery Museum Celebrates 20 Years

March 27, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The new clubhouse at Bighorn Country Club hosted The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert for their silver anniversary. At the event were politicians like …

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Categories Press Tags BIGHORN, bighorn country club, kate spates, palm desert, palm springs, rancho mirage, the children's discovery museum of the desert

Desert Arc Celebrates Those Who Care

March 13, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Desert Arc’s inaugural Recognition Awards Luncheon at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort brought out almost 300 guests. Desert Arc’s programs are designed to help people …

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Categories Press Tags agua caliente, Agua Caliente casino Resort, Desert Arc, eisenhower health, harold matzner, palm springs
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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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