Sumner Redstone gives $20 million to Motion Picture & Television Fund

The Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation has made a $20 million gift to the Motion Picture & Television Fund, the nonprofit group that provides healthcare and social services to active and retired entertainment industry workers.

The donation from Redstone, who is executive chairman of the board of CBS Corp. and Viacom Inc., brings to about $300 million the amount the fund has raised since February 2012. The fund’s goal is to raise $350 million.

“For me, it is a privilege to help provide essential services for those who truly drive this industry, so they can continue to focus on bringing entertainment magic to so many around the world,” Redstone said. “I am proud to support the MPTF, a remarkable organization led by some of Hollywood’s leading lights, in its long-term commitment to the film and television community.”

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The campaign was created to build permanent funding for the broad range of social and charitable services that MPTF provides to more than 15,000 entertainment industry workers and their families each year.

“For more than two decades Sumner Redstone has been one of the most generous supporters of MPTF and now with this extraordinary gift to the campaign, he is providing for future generations in the entertainment community who need the help, support and services of this extraordinary organization,” said DreamWorks Animation Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is chairman of the Motion Picture Television Fund Foundation.

Redstone is the latest among several Hollywood luminaries who have supported the fund, including Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Tom Cruise and Katzenberg.

“As we develop our strategic vision for the future, we know that over the next few years there are approximately 75,000 industry workers who will be retiring and many will need our assistance,” said Bob Beitcher, MPTF president and chief executive. “MPTF is poised to be the major safety net for our industry thanks to the success of this campaign.”

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