A vehicle for social and ecological transformation in our community.
With the desire to be more than just theatres and entertainment, the Laemmle family took a leap into what is now one of their significant ventures, and created The Laemmle Charitable Foundation in 2000. After taking two months off on sabbatical, Co-Owner, Greg Laemmle, came back to work with the desire to lend his hand once again to the community, but in a way the Laemmle Theatres had not done before. By stepping beyond the entertainment community, Greg hoped to channel the company’s efforts and make the family’s vision of a sustainable community a reality. He sought to create a private charitable foundation that would work by giving money to other charities, while investing in the community and sharing this company and family’s ideals. Greg knew that this foundation would give more meaning to the business as a whole and act as a platform for continued community involvement. After nearly 62 years of successful business, and the recent opening of Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, the time had come for the next great Laemmle project, and the foundation was born.
The Laemmle Foundation was designed in a way that allowed the family to give back to those neighborhoods and communities that have supported the theatres and made them what they are. Specifically, the foundation benefits non-profits agencies working to improve life in Los Angeles through addressing social and environmental issues critical to the region. A flexible approach is also paramount, allowing the foundation to respond swiftly to shifting times and the needs of the day. Each year, the board determines how much funds are available and then makes allocation decisions. The foundation has made an effort to always distribute funds to multiple charities and over the years has been fortunate enough to give more than just money, but also their time.
To date, the Laemmle Charitable Foundation has given approximately $750,000 to over 60 charities since starting in 2000. Displaying growth and humble beginnings, the charity started in 2000 with their first donation of $5,000. Since, they donated $85,000 in 2009, $100,000 in 2011, and $110,000 in 2012 to over 30+ charities. Over the years, the foundation has been able to flourish with respect to its resources, but more importantly, in promise for our community.