THR's Philanthropy Issue: Haim and Cheryl Saban talk donating $420 million, Israel and 2020 presidential race
The outspoken media moguls, who have pledged much of their $3.2 billion fortune to charity, reveal how they select causes like women’s empowerment, healthcare and a $50 million gift to the Academy Museum — and which presidential candidate might win their support .
"The basic strategy is 50-50. Meaning for every dollar we give in America, we give a dollar in Israel," he explains. "I was an immigrant twice, once from Egypt to Israel. Israel opened her arms and took me in. And America opened her arms, and I'm an American citizen now." "Haim is cute. He's like at 40,000 feet with this stuff, you know. We're down on the runway," says Cheryl, 68. "If we're going to give a million dollars, then it's going to be very well calculated. We will know the impact, we will know the plan, and we will get reports. We believe in following the money and making sure that if we're going to give big gifts, there is accountability.
Iger says he realized it was a long shot given the Sabans' domestic giving has skewed more toward health care and female empowerment . But the couple did bankroll the Center for Health and Wellness at the Motion Picture Television Fund and the Media Center at the Television Academy , so Iger saw an opening. "He told me it wasn't necessarily keeping with the Sabans' philanthropic strategy, but he promised to get back to me in a few days," Iger says.to? It's your legacy.
But Cheryl counters her husband's characterization, offering a story told to her by Haim's late mother, who lived to be 102. As a boy, he was given a box of chocolates as a rare birthday gift. He passed the box around, and everybody got a piece but him. As Cheryl offers this anecdote, he begins to remember the day and beams at his wife.Perhaps in an effort to further impress Cheryl, Haim launches into a denunciation of those who are unwilling to part with their riches.
There is a guiding principle to their philanthropy, with nearly all of their causes falling into five silos: health care, Los Angeles cultural and civic vitality, female empowerment, veterans and strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. If her area of focus could be described as maternal, Haim is more fixated on politics. In his office, he keeps 10 televisions going simultaneously that play all of the cable news channels as well as live feeds from Israel.
Haim acknowledges that his mission has become more difficult in the current climate. "There is a certain tension [now], but is that tension something that was always there but not expressed? I don't know. There's a famous saying that anti-Semitism is a light sleeper, and it doesn't take much to wake it," he says.
Haim, who remains a citizen of Israel as well, explains why that quote resonates with him. "This [was] our secretary of state. Not some lover of Israel, an evangelical or a Jewish person," he notes. "I can't deny the impact that Bernie has had on the Democratic Party," he adds. "I love it when Bernie says, 'I recognize Israel's right to exist.' That's how he expresses his support of Israel. Well, thank you so very much. Are you out of your freaking mind? Oh, I'm allowed to live. Hallelujah, praise the lord."
Talent attorney and Saban Community Clinic board member Sam Fischer says the fact that the couple asks for naming rights has nothing to do with vanity and everything to do with inspiring others in the Hollywood community to match their pace. "Part of the reason he doesn't give anonymously is he is leading by example," says Fischer. "When [the clinic] had our 50th anniversary, Haim made phone calls to others to really step up and increase their contributions to the clinic.
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