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PS Museum Gala Raises $1 Million

February 14, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs Art Museum’s “Not Your Typical Gala” was a mix of classic artwork, acrobats, and the eccentric stylings of Andy Warhol’s Americana and …

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Gal Gadot, Israel’s Power Thespian

February 8, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Israeli standout actress and new Wonder Woman Gal Gadot made her red carpet appearance at one of the biggest film festivals in North America… The …

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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 …

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8th Annual Men Of The Desert Fashion Show & Charity Luncheon

February 5, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The 8th Annual Men of the Desert Fashion Show and Charity Luncheon raised $135,000 via silent auctions for the Animal Samaritans Rescue Program. The luncheon …

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Desert Cancer’s Food And Wine Classic Was A Classic

January 30, 2018 by Harold Matzner

One of the most sought-after tickets of the social season, the signature fundraising event of the Desert Cancer Foundation is the only charity event allowed …

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Pegasus Riders Award Event Was Touching

January 30, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The world-wide standard for equine therapy, Pegasus offers treatments through its riding programs to severely disabled children. In its Riders Award Event, they gave out …

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Disco Fever at the PSIFF Closing Night Gala

January 24, 2018January 22, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Closing night for the 29th Annual Palm Springs International Film Fest was a trip down memory lane, with a presentation of The Last Movie Star, starring Burt …

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Palm Springs International Film Festival Opening Night Gala

January 17, 2018 by Harold Matzner
Palm Springs Film Festival Chairman Harold Matzner with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks

The Richard’s Center for the Performing Arts held a sold-out audience for Steven Spielberg’s latest project, The Post, at the Palm Springs International Film Festival …

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Film Awards Gala Explodes With Hollywood Star Power

January 10, 2018January 6, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The star power was palpable at the Gala that kicks off Hollywood Awards Season, with names like Jessica Chastain, Willem DaFoe, Salma Hayek, and Gal …

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Christmas Tree Lane benefits ACT for MS, Dec. 1, 2017

January 9, 2018January 5, 2018 by Harold Matzner

A crowd of 175 supporters came to the 17th Annual Christmas Tree Lane event to raise funds supporting free services for locals suffering from MS. …

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How Sonny Bono’s Palm Springs Legacy Lives On With Film Festival

January 5, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Sonny Bono’s legacy lives on, as his original idea, the Palm Springs International Film Fest, reaches new heights with Chairman Harold Matzner at the helm. …

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Patty Jenkins at Variety’s Creative Impact Awards: ‘I Believe in My Ability to Inspire and Change the World’

January 10, 2018January 5, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The Parker Palm Springs played host to the Creative Impact Awards, which celebrates Variety’s list of “10 Directors to Watch.” A number of the names acknowledged …

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Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala 2018: Wonder Woman, The Red Carpet And More

January 5, 2018 by Harold Matzner

A who’s who of Hollywood’s finest graced the red carpet of the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala, including Rising Star Award winner Gal Gadot, …

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With Media Focused On Sexual Misconduct, Palm Springs Festival Stars Talk Art of Cinema

January 9, 2018January 3, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Despite a tumultuous year of allegations, the red carpet rolled out to an enthusiastic bunch of Hollywood’s finest. It attracted a sell-out crowd of around …

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Coachella Valley Symphony ‘Christmas in Vienna’

January 9, 2018December 30, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Brought back and revamped, the Christmas dinner and symphony concert “Christmas in Vienna” was a sold out experience.  Celebrating their 25th anniversary and providing a …

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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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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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  • We’ve announced the Palm Springs International ShortFest lineup! June 10, 2024
  • Palm Springs International Film Society Receives Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts June 5, 2024
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