Most people are familiar with the image of Hugh Hefner in his trademark robe and pajamas, which became his uniform. Many of them may be surprised to learn that the man who made his fortune through the creation of the Playboy empire, and who bragged about having slept with over a thousand women, wasn’t afraid to help those in need. His lifestyle may have made some people uncomfortable about some of the elements surrounding it.
Despite that, there are many instances where he stepped in to assist, donating money or raising funds to benefit those less fortunate. The Playboy Mansion, which is currently being restored, was often used to host fundraising events.
The Hugh M Hefner Foundation
Hefner died in 2011, but his charitable acts still continue. One of the first earliest and most significant of his charitable ventures was the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation. Established in 1964, the foundation is still going, and awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to needy organizations and individuals fighting for First Amendment rights.
With the aim of facilitating individual rights in a democracy, for the last five decades, it's helped by supporting research into traditionally taboo areas like sex and reproductive health, which have traditionally been brushed aside by America’s conservatism. In fact, the foundation funded the very first rape kits in the US.
Hefner donated as much as $3 million each year to his charity.
Hefner Supported “The Children Of The Night”
He might have built his empire on sex, but Hefner was opposed to children becoming involved in the sex industry. To that end, he was a staunch supporter of Children of the Night, a non-profit organization that provides intervention in the lives of children who are sexually exploited and vulnerable to prostitution and pornography. The organization has rescued over 11,000 children from prostitution in the US.
In November 2010, Children of the Night founder and president Dr. Lois Lee presented Hefner with the organization's first-ever Founder's Hero of the Heart Award in appreciation for his unwavering dedication, commitment, and generosity.
He Helped The “Thalians”
Initially led by Debbie Reynolds, the Thalians were formed in 1955 by a group of Hollywood actors determined to create a mental health center. The organization has raised over $30 million in support of Mental Health programs.
In 2011 Hefner was given The Mr. Wonderful award at the annual Gala, which honors members for their contributions to the entertainment industry and their philanthropic endeavors. The award was personally created and designed for The Thalians by Walt Disney.
His Generosity Extended To Animals Too
An animal lover, amongst the many charities Hefner supported, was the Much Love Animal Rescue, which benefited from the many fundraiser events he threw for the organization.
He even had an endangered subspecies of rabbit named after him — the Sylvilagus palustris hefneri lives on a few islands in the Florida Keys. Found nowhere else in the world, there are less than 300 of them in the wild.
Hefner donated a generous amount of funding to research the marsh rabbits. He also donated money to build a shelter for feral cats (another of his loves), who preyed on the bunnies, in an effort to save both species.
Hefner Donated Funds For A Film Course
Hefner’s benevolence extended into the world of film. He donated $100,000 to the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts to create a course called "Censorship in Cinema". He also donated $2 million to endow a chair for the study of American film.
Another donation by Hefner in 2007 benefited the university's audiovisual archive. As a result, the Norris Theater was renamed the Hugh M Hefner Moving Image Archive in his honor.
He Launched A Fundraiser To Save The Hollywood Sign
Staying at the movies, it’s a fact that without Hefner one of the best-known sites in Tinseltown, the iconic Hollywood sign, might have disappeared forever. And he didn’t just come to its rescue once, he saved it twice.
In 1978, the iconic sign had lost its luster. Fallen into disrepair, rusty and dirty, some of the letters had broken, one had been burnt and others had fallen down.
Hefner helped organize fund-raising efforts that led to the restoration of the sign, hosting a gala fundraiser for celebrities at the Playboy Mansion. Adding his own money to the funds raised at the event, Hefner handed over an amount of $27,000 which was almost one-tenth of the total restoration costs. He also purchased the letter 'Y' in a ceremonial auction.
In 2010, the sign again faced extinction when Cahuenga Peak, on which it stands, was put up for sale. Interested developers planning to put up executive homes on the site were opposed by the Public Trust For Lands. On April 26, Hefner donated the last $900,000 sought by the group for the land purchase, which blocked the development of the vista of the Hollywood Sign. Today the site is protected parkland.
Hefner’s Estate Continued To Help Those In Need
After Hefner died, and while his estate was being wound up, Hefner’s foundation struggled without his monthly contributions. And so, a year after his death, a number of personal items were auctioned to raise funds for his charity.
The top-selling item was his portable typewriter, which he had used to type up the copy for the publication of the first copy of Playboy magazine. It sold for $162,500.
Another item that brought in a large amount of money was his personal issue of the publication that started it all in 1953: Although Marilyn Monroe didn't make much money posing for Playboy, Hugh Hefner's personal copy of the first issue of the magazine, which featured the blonde bombshell on the cover, sold for $31,250.
Even In His Last Weeks Alive Hefner Still Tried To Help Others
Hefner died on 21 September 2017 at the age of 91. In his final few tweets, he urged people to donate to those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
He wrote: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by Hurricanes Harvey & Irma, both the victims and the first responders. He then shared a link to the One America Appeal and asked people to 'join him' in supporting the ongoing relief efforts.
A controversial figure throughout his life, he's known to some as a villain, to others as a saint. It seems Hugh Hefner may have been a little of both.