Skip to content
Harold Matzner
  • Home
  • Film Festival
  • Palm Springs
  • Press

philanthropy

Palm Springs International Film Awards To Honor Danielle Deadwyler With The Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress

December 14, 2022 by Harold Matzner
Danielle

The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Danielle Deadwyler is the recipient of the Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress for her performance in Till.The …

Read more

Categories Press Tags coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs film fest, palm springs international film fest, philanthropy, psiff

Palm Springs International Film Awards To Present Viola Davis With The Chairman’s Award

December 10, 2022 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Viola Davis is the recipient of the Chairman’s Award recognizing her work as an actress and …

Read more

Categories Press Tags coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs film fest, palm springs international film fest, philanthropy

Palm Springs International Film Awards Gala Tables, Seats & Passes Are Now on Sale

August 30, 2022 by Harold Matzner
Palm Springs International Film Awards Gala Tables, Seats & Passes Are Now on Sale

After two years off due to Covid, the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala is back and tables, seats, and passes are all on …

Read more

Categories Blog Tags charity, coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropy

“Harold Matzner: The Brilliant Enigma” from Palm Springs Life Magazine

August 9, 2022August 8, 2022 by Harold Matzner
“Harold Matzner: The Brilliant Enigma” from Palm Springs Life Magazine

Part 2 of Palm Springs Life Magazine’s profile of Harold Matzner focuses on the Palm Springs International Film Festival. With quotes from colleagues, fellow board …

Read more

Categories Blog Tags charity, coachella valley, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy

National Philanthropy Day in the Desert awards luncheon draws 750 to Indian Wells

November 20, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Spencer’s Restaurant owner and Coachella Valley philanthropist Harold Matzner returned as the presenting sponsor and honorary chair for q capacity crowd at the luncheon for …

Read more

Categories Press Tags harold matzner, indian wells, National Philanthropy Day, National Philanthropy Day in the Desert, philanthropist, philanthropy

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. …

Read more

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

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, …

Read more

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

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 …

Read more

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

Waring Piano Competition: Light As A Feather

March 13, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The Agua Caliente Casino Resort theater played host to the Waring International Piano Competition where feathers and fundraising were featured. Jack and Patti Grundhofer were …

Read more

Categories Press Tags agua caliente, Agua Caliente casino Resort, harold matzner, philanthropist, philanthropy, Waring International Piano Competition

Dana Hobart, Kate Spates lead in campaign fundraising for Rancho Mirage council

March 9, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Rancho Mirage city council candidates Dana Hobart and Kate Spates have both raised $30,959 and $29,444, respectively, for their campaigns. Hobart’s largest contributor was philanthropist …

Read more

Categories Press Tags harold matzner, palm springs, palm springs city council, philanthropist, philanthropy, rancho mirage

Eisenhower Health ‘Just Imagine’

March 1, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The “Just Imagine” fundraising gala aimed at bringing Eisenhower Health even closer to achieving their vision of “world class healthcare” was a tremendous success, raising …

Read more

Categories Press Tags eisenhower health, fundraiser, fundraising, harold matzner, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy

Steve Chase Gala Raises $6 Million In One Night For Healthcare Home

February 21, 2018 by Harold Matzner

An astounding success, the 24th annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards gala raised $6 million, all the while celebrating the biggest names in philanthropy and rolling …

Read more

Categories Press Tags harold matzner, humanitarian, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy, Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards

The Write Stuff: 5th Annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival

February 14, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Pulitzer-prize winners like A. Scott Berg and Bret Stephens were among the keynote speakers at the 5th Annual Rancho Mirage Writer’s Festival “Angels Only,” which …

Read more

Categories Press Tags angels only, harold matzner, philanthropist, philanthropy, pulitzer prize winner, rancho mirage, rancho mirage writers festival

Desert Arc recognizes community leaders for their support

February 6, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Desert Arc, a nonprofit grouped aimed at creating opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities, acknowledged the leaders and businesses which have championed their cause. Among …

Read more

Categories Press Tags coachella valley, Desert Arc, harold matzner, jfk memorial hospital, palm springs, philanthropist, philanthropy

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 …

Read more

Categories Press Tags harold matzner, matzner, mr palm springs, palm springs, philanthropy
Older posts
Page1 Page2 Next →
Load More
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.

Categories

  • Film Festival
  • Press
  • Palm Springs
  • Spencer’s
  • McCallum

Archived Posts

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.

Follow Us:

Categories

  • Film Festival
  • Press
  • McCallum
  • Palm Springs
  • Spencer’s

Recent Posts

  • 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest Will Screen Over 300 Films June 17, 2025
  • The McCallum Theatre Announces Yvonne Bell as New CEO and Launches 2025-2026 Season Tickets June 13, 2025
  • Spring Philanthropy Round-Up June 11, 2025
© 2025 Harold Matzner All rights reserved.
Next Page »