Film Mogul’s Gifts Are a “Call to Action”

In an attempt to spur others in Hollywood to donate to charitable causes, Haim Saban, a film and television producer, and his wife, Cheryl, announced last month that they have committed approximately $100-million to charities in the United States and Israel through personal donations and through the Saban Family Foundation.

Mr. Saban said he considers the gifts a “call to action” to other wealthy people in the entertainment industry. He said that Hollywood is full of multimillionaires who don’t give enough to charities.

Mr. Saban is chairman and chief executive officer of Saban Capital Group, a private-investment firm in Los Angeles, and founder of Saban Entertainment, which has produced films and children’s television programs, including the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. He was born in Egypt, but moved to Israel as a child.

The couple has made large gifts and pledges to the following institutions:

• Childrens Hospital Los Angeles: $41.3-million pledge to support cancer and gene-therapy research and to construct a new research facility. The Saban Family Foundation will make annual payments of about $4-million to the hospital for the next 10 years. Ms. Saban is a member of the hospital’s Board of Trustees.
• The Brookings Institution (Washington): $13.3-million pledge to establish a Center for Middle East Policy to support research on U.S. policy in the region.
• The Motion Picture & Television Fund Country House and Hospital (Woodland Hills, Calif.): $10-million pledge for capital improvements and to construct a therapy and wellness center for elderly people and members of the entertainment industry.
• The Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans Fund (New York): $5.2-million pledge to help its parent organization, the Zahal Disabled Veterans Fund, in Tel Aviv, construct the Beit Halochem Center in Beersheba, Israel. The center will be a rehabilitation facility for Israeli veterans and civilians who are disabled or were injured in attacks in the region.
• The Soroka Medical Center (Beersheba, Israel): $5-million pledge to construct a children’s hospital.
• The William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation (Little Rock, Ark.): $5-million pledge to construct a center to house books, correspondence, photographs, and other memorabilia of President Clinton. The Saban Family Foundation will make annual payments of $500,000 over the next 10 years. Mr. and Mrs. Saban have been significant donors to the Democratic Party.
• The Jewish Community Foundation (Los Angeles): $3-million to create a fund to support charitable organizations in Israel.
• Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (New York): $2.3-million for scholarships for members of the Israel Defense Forces.
• American Friends of Tel Aviv U. (Los Angeles): $1-million to create a center on American policy at the university.

Mr. and Mrs. Saban also pledged or distributed $12.9-million to more than 100 other charitable organizations in the United States and Israel.