Entertainment Industry Foundation
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The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), based in Los Angeles, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry. EIF funds more than 300 charitable organizations annually, both in the LA area and throughout the United States.
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[edit] Mission
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The Entertainment Industry Foundation harnesses the collective power of the entertainment industry and channels its unique assets to raise awareness and funds for critical health, educational and social issues in order to make a positive impact in our community and throughout the nation.
[edit] History
Created in 1942 by Hollywood heavyweights - Samuel Goldwyn with friends Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and the Warner Bros, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (formerly Permanent Charities Committee founded by M. C. Levee) was established on the belief that the entertainment industry was in a unique position to truly help others.
Their vision was to unify Hollywood's generous giving in order to maximize the amount of charitable dollars raised annually, and guarantee that worthy charities receive these contributions.
Throughout its history, the Entertainment Industry Foundation has focused on some of the most pressing needs of our time: from the first grants directed to wartime agencies like the United States Organizations and American Red Cross, to providing funding and creating awareness to help eradicate childhood polio.
Today, EIF continues this tradition and has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support charitable initiatives addressing critical health and social issues, as well as funding for some of the most advanced medical research today.
[edit] Stand Up To Cancer
In 2008, EIF launched its largest cancer initiative to date designed to raise funds to accelerate ground-breaking cancer research and bring new therapies to patients more quickly. Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) is an initiative created to accelerate groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives. SU2C utilizes the entertainment industry to build broad public support for this effort, and to enhance awareness of the devastating impact cancer has in this country. SU2C's goal is to bring together the best and the brightest in the cancer community, encouraging collaboration instead of competition. SU2C, a program of EIF, was established by a group of executives from film, television and philanthropy whose lives have all been affected by cancer in significant ways.
EIF has partnered with the American Association for Cancer Research and its leading scientists to get the initiative organized and underway. The SU2C model emphasizes collaboration among world-class scientists across institutions, which will accelerate the pace at which they can translate research breakthroughs into major advances against cancer.
EIF President and CEO Lisa Paulsen and Vice President Kathleen Lobb serve on the Stand Up To Cancer Executive Leadership Committee.
[edit] EIF Initiatives
The Entertainment Industry Foundation has created and operates several national initiatives to help address leading health concerns such as cancer and diabetes, and raise awareness about important social and educational issues, especially those affecting children.
Through these initiatives, EIF provides grants to accelerate some of the most promising medical research being done today on prevention and early detection of different types of cancer, as well as improved treatments with fewer side-effects. Initiatives include:
- EIF’s National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance
- EIF’s Women’s Cancer Programs
- EIF’s Healthcare Initiative
- Diabetes Aware
- Picture Quitting
[edit] Leadership
EIF's current Campaign Chair is actor Pierce Brosnan. Previous chairs include Joan Crawford, Gene Kelly, Jimmy Stewart, Michael J. Fox, Gene Hackman, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, and Clint Eastwood.
In July 2008, EIF announced a reconstituted Board of Directors including top representatives from across the industry. Film studios, television networks, talent agencies, labor unions and guilds all have members on the board. Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures continues her long association with EIF by serving as board chair.
Lisa Paulsen is the current President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
