HFPA Grants More Than $750,000 to 25 Film Schools and Non-Profit Organizations During Annual Installation Luncheon

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association presented $759,865 in financial grants to film schools and non-profit organizations at its annual Installation Luncheon honoring the organization’s 2008-2009 slate of officers today at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Celebrities attending the event to announce grants included Aaron Eckhart and Jon Hamm. Acceptance remarks on behalf of the grants were made by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (Film Independent, Inc.), Rosario Dawson (IFP), Dana Delany (UCLA), Dakota Fanning (California State Summer School Arts Foundation), Chris Messina (Sundance Institute), Elizabeth Pena (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) and Rosie Perez (Inner-City Arts).

Re-elected President Jorge Camara introduced the re-elected officers Mike Goodridge, vice president; Serge Rakhlin, executive secretary; and Meher Tatna, treasurer. The new Board of Directors is comprised of Mahfouz Doss (re-elected Chairman), Erkki Kanto, Lilly Lui, Paz Mata, Frances Schoenberger, and Armando Gallo (alternate).

“Despite last January’s cancellation of the Annual Golden Globe Awards due to the Writers Guild strike that curtailed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s income, we’re delighted to honor our ongoing commitment to support entertainment industry-related film school and non-profit organizations,” said Jorge Camara, HFPA President. “Over the past several years, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Foundation has presented more than $7.5 million in financial grants to dozens of film schools and non-profit organizations.”

For more information, go to www.goldenglobes.org

 Contact: Michael Russell (310) 939-9024  

SOURCE: HFPA