Hugh Hefner helps rescue Hollywood sign ( Archived) (10)

Mon Apr 26, 2:25 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner on Monday donated the last $900,000 sought by a conservation group for a land purchase needed to save the famed vista of the Hollywood sign from being spoiled by development.

Hefner's key role in reaching the group's fund-raising goal was announced by Los Angeles city officials, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the San Francisco-based Trust for Public Land at a news conference in the Hollywood Hills.

The land trust needed to collect a total of $12.5 million by this Friday under a deal with a group of Chicago investors who bought the 1,820-foot (555-meter) ridge, called Cahuenga Peak, from the estate of billionaire Howard Hughes in 2002.

The trust will now purchase the 138-acre (56-hectare) adjacent parcel and turn it over to the city to be incorporated into the surrounding Griffith Park, preventing any construction that would mar the postcard-perfect view of the Hollywood sign nearby.

"My childhood dreams and fantasies came from the movies, and the images created in Hollywood had a major influence on my life and Playboy," Hefner said in a statement. "As I've said before, the Hollywood sign is Hollywood's Eiffel Tower and I'm pleased to help preserve such an important cultural landmark."

Other private donors to the Hollywood sign preservation effort included actor Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg, the land trust said.

would you do the same .if you could?

Cool, that sign needs to stay.
And I don't care for the stars' private lives and who's who in Hollywood. That sign has become the symbol of Cinema the Art, why the hell get it down?

We have our very own.

hey strict

i would have to say yes
yes i would

if i had that kind of money and shared it first with other more human causes

as hef does

well bodle what can i say except what you said?

that article had at least 3 concepts that really confused me



hello host of the year

thanks for gracing us

My pleasure.

But just to follow on from the story.



Where's Hugh when you need him?

It's a sign get over it.You wouldn't see them donating to the homeless.

what do you truly know about it?

people with money and people in hollywood spend alot on philanthropy

some do it only for tax purposes but it still helps those in need

sheesh you seem hateful