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Gary Oldman Adds To His Already Impressive Resumé With Churchill Portrayal

November 27, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Gary Oldman returns to the Palm Springs International Film Festival to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his performance as Winston Churchill during the …

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Categories Press Tags darkest hour, Gary Oldman, palm springs, palm springs international film fest

An Oral History of Mr. Palm Springs, As Told By Friends & Colleagues

January 18, 2018November 11, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Spencer’s owner, philanthropist, Chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and Horatio Alger Award-winner Harold Matzner is a man held in high regard by his friends …

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Categories Press Tags horatio alger award, palm springs, palm springs international film fest, philanthropist, psiff

National Philanthropy Day in the Desert Cocktail Reception

November 8, 2017 by Harold Matzner

More than 100 guests were present to celebrate the announcement of the honorees for National Philanthropy Day in the Desert. Harold Matzner was in attendance …

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

The 2017 Palm Springs Equality Awards

October 25, 2017 by Harold Matzner

EQCA (Equality California) presented their new logo and tagline “Until the work is done” at the 2017 Palm Springs Equality Awards, where Congress Representatives joined 600 …

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Categories Press Tags 2017 Palm Springs Equality Awards, EQCA, Equality California, palm springs

Shellie Muujiza Makes Her Debut At The Living Desert Sanctuary

September 13, 2017 by Harold Matzner

A 5’11 baby giraffe was born and christened Shellie, after Shellie Reade, the life partner of philanthropist and Living Desert benefactor Harold Matzner. The birth …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, living desert, palm springs, shellie Reade, shellie the giraffe

Mr. Palm Springs Celebrates His 80th Birthday

January 10, 2018July 3, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Businessman, one of the Valley’s top donors (with nearly $70 million given over the past 17 years), philanthropist, and 2017 Horatio Alger Award recipient Harold Matzner …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, matzner, mr palm springs, palm springs, philanthropy

And the Grand Prize at ShortFest 2017 Goes to…

June 27, 2017 by Harold Matzner

“Facing Mecca” took home the Best of Festival prize, which included $5,000 from the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. Chairman of the Festival …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs international film fest, palm springs short fest, short fest

Harold Matzner’s Latest Namesake is One Big Baby

June 26, 2017June 23, 2017 by Harold Matzner

One of the Living Desert’s youngest denizens is Harold, a baby giraffe whose namesake is Palm Spring’s own Harold Matzner, a long-time supporter and recent donator …

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Categories Press Tags giraffe conservation fund, harold matzner, living desert, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy, world giraffe day

ShortFest Attendees Brave The Sweltering Heat for Great Opening Night

June 26, 2017June 23, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The biggest shortfilm festival in its 23rd season had a great opening night, despite the searing desert heat. Chairman Harold Matzner acknowledged Lili Rodriguez, the first-time …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, Palm Springs International Film Fest Awards, palm springs short fest, psiff, shortfest

Spencer’s Lends A Hand To The “Little Guy”

June 26, 2017June 4, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Spencer’s owner Harold Matzner invited diners to the Watercress Vietnamese Bistro at no charge, to help bolster their business and get some publicity for the newer, …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, small business, spencer's restaurant, spencers, watercress vietnamese bistro

‘Rhapsody and Blues’ Earns Thunderous Applause at Coachella Valley Symphony’s Year-End Gala

May 26, 2017May 20, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Two-time Grammy winner and jazz musician Diane Schuu joined piano prodigy Paul Cracchiolo to bring the house down and earn rousing applause for their amazing performances. Harold Matzner …

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Categories Press Tags coachella valley, Coachella Valley Symphony, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist, Rhapsody and Blues, scholarships

24th Annual Evening Under the Stars A Festive Success

May 19, 2017May 13, 2017 by Harold Matzner

One of Palm Spring’s most festive events, the 24th Annual Evening Under the Stars, featured a delicious dinner catered by Savoury’s, a performance from Martha …

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Categories Press Tags coachella valley, Evening Under the Stars, Food Samaritans, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropists, sponsors

Celebrating the 28th Annual Gala of the Desert Symphony Orchestra

May 10, 2017May 6, 2017 by Harold Matzner

With country music star LeAnn Rimes stepping in to perform with the entire Desert Symphony orchestra and screen and stage star Ruta Lee being honored, it …

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Categories Press Tags Amadeus Award, Desert Symphony, Desert Symphony orchestra, harold matzner, LeAnn Rimes, McCallum Theater, palm springs, Patrick M. McCarthy Foundation, Ruta Lee

Spencer’s Mentioned As One of The Top Places To Eat In Palm Springs…

April 25, 2017April 22, 2017 by Harold Matzner

In the spirit of Desert AIDS Project’s Dining Out for Life program, a few notable Palm Springs residents were asked what their favorite eateries were. …

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Categories Press Tags Desert AIDS Project, dining out for life, harold matzner, palm springs, spencers

From Humble Beginnings, To An Honor Reserved For Only A Select Handful of Americans…

April 7, 2017March 30, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Harold Matzner tells us a little about himself, and it becomes clear why the philanthropist is up for induction into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, Horatio Alger Association, palm springs, philanthropy
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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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