Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. Contributes $6 Million to MPTF

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MPTF (Motion Picture and Television Fund) and the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation today announced a $6 million gift to establish The Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. Center for Behavioral Health on MPTF's Woodland Hills campus and to bolster the endowment fund at the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation Children's Center in West Los Angeles. The Goldwyn Family is the single largest donor in MPTF's 93-year history, having contributed in excess of $55 million to the organization. 

"What is amazing to me is not just the legacy of extraordinary generosity from Sam and his family," says Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chairman of the MPTF Foundation, "but the impact their giving has had on so many people in our industry."

He adds, "This new gift to the MPTF Campaign not only funds a new 12-bed behavioral health unit on our campus but also ensures the Children's Center will continue to thrive in the years ahead."

MPTF President & CEO Bob Beitcher recalls that in 1932 the then-called Motion Picture Relief Fund (now MPTF) could not afford a staff, so volunteers like Samuel Goldwyn, Sr. spent hours in the Fund's offices interviewing applicants seeking assistance.

"Years later, Sam Jr. and the Goldwyn Family continue this wonderful legacy of supporting the needs of the entertainment community," adds Beitcher.  

In accepting the latest Goldwyn Family gift, Beitcher praised Sam Goldwyn, Jr. for his leadership in taking his family commitment to a whole new level through his visionary philanthropy. Beitcher added, "With this new gift, MPTF is now positioned to address a significant and emerging need for industry workers over 55 years old who are struggling with depression and other behavioral health issues."

The 12-bed Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. Center for Behavioral Health will be affiliated with UCLA Health and will feature an interdisciplinary treatment team using a holistic approach to behavioral management for patients over 55 years old. Dr. Pauline Wu, a UCLA Health Services Clinical Instructor who is board certified in general adult psychiatry with a subspecialty in geriatric psychiatry, will be the Center's Medical Director. She will work closely with UCLA's Dr. Thomas Strouse and Dr. Gary Small, both thought leaders in the field of behavioral health in seniors. The Samuel Goldwyn Jr., Center for Behavioral Health is scheduled to open in October 2014.

The Goldwyn Foundation gift is part of the $350 million MPTF Campaign, which was launched in February 2012 to support the charitable programs and services provided to the entertainment industry community. The MPTF Campaign chaired by Jeffrey Katzenberg and George Clooney has now raised $325 million in commitments to date.

About MPTF

For 90 years, MPTF (Motion Picture and Television Fund) has served as a beacon of hope for entertainment industry members in their time of need. As a charitable organization, the MPTF provides financial assistance and services essential to the wellbeing of the community and is a leader in the development and implementation of services and programs for seniors and those who care for them. MPTF is supported by the generosity of corporate donors and fellow entertainment industry members who contribute their time and money because they believe in the critical importance of Hollywood helping Hollywood. Follow MPTF on Twitter.

SOURCE MPTF