Spielberg, Katzenberg & Geffen to Donate $90 Million to MPTF

In an extraordinary commitment, the three men who created DreamWorks SKG: Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, are each donating $30 million to the MPTF Campaign as announced today by George Clooney, MPTF Board member and co-chair of the Campaign. The total commitment of $90 million is a major shot in the arm for the $350 million Campaign announced earlier this year to build the endowment and support the charitable operations of the industry’s charity.

“Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen are each legendary for their philanthropy and individually have made immeasurable impact on charities and organizations ranging from arts and culture, health care, education, film preservation and social services in our Hollywood community and around the nation,” said Clooney. “And now for them to make this unified commitment to MPTF only adds to that incredible record of generosity.”

Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chairman of the MPTF Foundation, indicated that the MPTF Campaign was initiated by the Board to make sure that funding for the charitable programs and services that have been aiding the industry for over 90 years would be secure in the future.

“Marilyn and I are so happy to join together with my partners and friends, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen, to support our industry’s most important and valuable charitable organization,” said Katzenberg. “Hopefully, with this gift, MPTF will get even closer to reaching its ambitious goal for its endowment campaign.”

“I can think of no better way to support the industry than by uniting with my two esteemed partners to ensure that the Fund is able to continue to provide essential services to those in need,” said Geffen. “I couldn’t be happier to contribute to such an important, impactful cause.”

“It becomes very personal when someone you know or have worked with is cared for at ‘the Home’ or a crew member is helped financially by MPTF,” said Spielberg. “The mission ‘we take care of our own’ is suddenly very real and tangible, and so this new donation is an extension of what we have been doing for a number of years to support that mission. And somewhere I have this feeling that a smiling Lew and Edie are looking down with pride that their gentle persuasion over the years helped lead us all to this moment.”

In acknowledging the three donations totaling $90 million, MPTF President & CEO Bob Beitcher expressed MPTF’s deep appreciation to Spielberg, Katzenberg and Geffen for their generosity and leadership in this critical endeavor for MPTF. “Our dedication to supporting the needs of the workforce as well as the growing needs of our industry’s senior population continues to put incredible pressure on our philanthropic needs,” said Beitcher. “Along with our annual giving programs, the MPTF Campaign is key to our long-term survival. Ultimately the endowment will secure our ability to adapt and grow to meet whatever comes our way thanks to everyone who has so generously supported the Campaign to date.”

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

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