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Donation from Palm Springs Philanthropist Keeps Temple Isaiah’s Doors Open

May 9, 2017March 29, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Temple Isaiah received a timely donation from philanthropist Harold Matzner that may have just saved it from being sold… To Read Original Article at KESQ.com, Click Here: …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist, temple isaiah

Waring International Piano Competition Celebrates 18th Anniversary

March 8, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Waring International Piano Competition celebrates its anniversary with their one-and-only fundraiser of the year, with Palm Spring’s Harold Matzner as one of the many sponsors involved… …

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Categories Press Tags Annenberg Foundation, harold matzner, palm springs, Waring International Piano Competition

The Steinway Society of Riverside County Touches the Lives of 30,000 Coachella Valley Students

March 23, 2017February 25, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Steinway Society celebrated its annual “doctors” fundraiser and its 15th anniversary, with support from sponsors like Jordan Varela, Donna MacMillan, Harold Matzner, and more… To …

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Categories Press Tags coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, Steinway Society of Riverside County

‘Grab Your Seat’ Campaign Concert and Reception A Success

March 13, 2017February 18, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Harold Matzner co-chaired the event along with Helene Galen, which officially established the Richards Center as a premier arts education and entertainment venue… To Read …

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Categories Press Tags Grab Your Seat, harold matzner, palm springs, Richards Center for the Arts

A Letter of Appreciation to Harold Matzner…

February 16, 2017February 9, 2017 by Harold Matzner

A letter from a Palm Springs resident showing gratitude to the philanthropic efforts of Harold Matzner… To Read Original Article at The Desert Sun, Click Here: The …

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Categories Press Tags desert sun, harold matzner, palm springs

Harold Matzner Pledges Matching Donation Towards the Purchase of an Armored Vehicle for Palm Springs Police Department

February 8, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs City Council approved Harold Matzner’s $256,800 donation for a tactical vehicle in an effort to help protect local law enforcement in situations …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs police department, pspd

Palm Springs International Film Festival Closes With Movie Screening and Q&A for Robert De Niro Comedy

February 13, 2017January 31, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Robert De Niro further cemented his legacy as one of Hollywood’s greatest by showing his acting range in a comedy that elicited laugh after laugh. …

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Categories Press Tags comedian, danny devito, edie falco, leslie mann, palm springs, palm springs film festival, robert de niro

Variety’s 20th Creative Impact Awards Brunch Shines Light on 10 Up and Coming Directors

January 30, 2017January 14, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The star studded yet casual brunch with a “Hollywood meets Palm Springs” vibe highlighted 10 prominent directors on the rise and honored the likes of …

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Categories Press Tags Creative Impact Awards Brunch, palm springs, variety

Palm Springs International Film Festival Opening Provides First Class Platform for Filmmakers

January 24, 2017January 7, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs International Film Festival’s recognition of fine films and lavish galas rev up awards season with 21 screens showing 190 films from 72 …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, la la land, palm springs, Palm Springs International Film Festival, psiff

Celebs Show Palm Springs Some Serious Love…

February 13, 2017January 6, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Jane Lynch, Ryan Gosling, and Amy Adams, among others, expressed their love for the Palm Springs community at the Variety Awards Lunch… To Read Original Article …

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Categories Press Tags amy adams, jane lynch, Mahershala Ali, palm springs, ryan gosling

Charity Event Brings Out Big Names to Raise Money for Locals Living With MS

December 28, 2016December 25, 2016 by Harold Matzner

The 16th anniversary of Christmas Tree Lane brought out Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon, volunteers, celebs, and local businessmen like Frank Tysen and Harold Matzner …

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Categories Press Tags Christmas Tree Lane, harold matzner, mayor Robert Moon, palm springs

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

Palm Springs International Film Festival Recognizes Andrew Garfield with Spotlight Award

December 22, 2016 by Harold Matzner

ANDREW GARFIELD TO RECEIVE THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD AT 28th ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM AWARDS GALA Palm Springs, CA (December 20, 2016) – …

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Categories Press Tags ANDREW GARFIELD, hacksaw ridge, palm springs, PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM

Celebrating the Books Behind the Movies at Palm Springs International Film Festival

December 22, 2016December 20, 2016 by Harold Matzner

“THE POWER OF WORDS: BOOK TO SCREEN” BRINGS AUTHORS BEHIND ACCLAIMED FILMS TO 2017 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 13 Hours, Arrival, Denial, Genius, The …

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Categories Press Tags 13 hours, arrival, palm springs, Palm Springs International Film Festival, psiff, septembers of shiraz, the late bloomer, the power of books

Mahershala Ali to Be Honored With Breakthrough Performance Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

December 20, 2016 by Harold Matzner

MAHERSHALA ALI TO RECEIVE BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE AWARD AT 28th ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM AWARDS GALA Palm Springs, CA (December 16, 2016) – …

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Categories Press Tags Mahershala Ali, palm springs, Palm Springs International Film Festival
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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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