Irwin and Margo Winkler
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Film Producer and Director
FUNDING AREAS: Human Services & Health, Education & Youth, Arts & Culture, Jewish Causes, LA Community
OVERVIEW: Irwin Winkler and his wife Margo do their grantmaking through the Margo and Irwin Winkler Charitable Foundation, which has made around $500,000in grants annually in recent years. The Winklers' charitable interests include education, scientific research, and the arts. Los Angeles is an important site of philanthropy.
BACKGROUND: Irwin Winkler was born in New York City and attended NYU. He produced Rocky, which won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1976. His films Raging Bull, The Right Stuff, and GoodFellas were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture.
ISSUES:
HUMAN SERVICES & HEALTH: The Winklers via their foundation have supported Cedar’s Sinai, Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Israel Levin Senior Center - Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, The Rape Foundation, and Friendly House LA, which helps women recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Another grantee is Tanner Project, whose work includes examining individuals for the early signs of predisposed hereditary diseases (such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and diabetes) before they begin.
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Grantees include Exceptional Children’s Foundation, Turning Point School, Warner Ave School, Westside Children’s School, and UCLA Foundation. One recent grant to UCLA Foundation went towards medical research.
ARTS AND CULTURE: Some of the couple's largest sums of late via their foundation have supported arts and culture. Not only does Winkler boast a long Hollywood career as a producer, but his wife Margo is an actress. Grantees include LACMA, Los Angeles Ballet, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and New York City Ballet.
JEWISH CAUSES: Grantees include Beth Jacobs Congregation in Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts: Beverly Hills Jewish Synagogue Temple, and Simon Wiesenthal Center.
LA COMMUNITY: As mentioned, the Winklers support various organizations in Los Angeles. Other grantees include Friends of Beverly Hills Library, Beverly Hills Police Officers Benevolent Fund, Beverly Hills Firefighter’s Association, and LA Times Foundation.
LOOKING FORWARD: In his 90s, Winkler has been a steady grantmaker for years. Expect this to continue. Down the line, keep an eye on the next generation of Winkler family philanthropy.
CONTACT:
The Margo and Irwin Winkler Charitable Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:
Margo and Irwin Winkler Charitable Foundation
11812 San Vicente Blvd., No. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90049
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