Kirk Douglas: You Haven’t Learned How to Live Until You’ve Learned How to Give

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Screen legend Kirk Douglas celebrated his 99th birthday. Instead of receiving gifts, he used the occasion to give one — $15 million for a new Alzheimer’s treatment facility. See the plans.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Legendary actor Kirk Douglas announced on his 99th birthday plans to donate $15 million towards a state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s care facility, to be named the Kirk Douglas Care Pavilion (KDCP).

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In making the announcement, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chairman of the MPTF Foundation, commented: “We are grateful to Kirk and Anne for making this leadership gift of $15 million.  It will kick the design and planning of this incredible new facility into high gear.”

Katzenberg added: “It is in keeping with Kirk’s philosophy of giving back to the entertainment community that he is the one giving us the gift on his birthday instead of us lavishing one on him. And with their recent commitment to MPTF, Kirk and Anne Douglas are some of the largest donors in the history of MPTF giving, with over $40 million of lifetime philanthropy. We will never be able to thank them enough for all that they have done.”

Kirk Douglas quote: “Anne and I created Harry’s Haven in 1992 because we wanted to help families in the entertainment community struggling to care for and comfort their loved ones who have Alzheimer’s. What MPTF has done at Harry’s Haven over the past 25 years never ceases to amaze me. We wanted visitors as well as patients to experience a warm and loving environment, and MPTF has fulfilled our wishes admirably. He added: When Jeffrey Katzenberg explained the urgency of enlarging the current facility to accommodate more patients, we had to say yes! Jeffrey knows it is our philosophy to provide funding where it is needed most. The Kirk Douglas Care Pavilion is going to help a lot of families in our community.”

“The KDCP will allow MPTF to expand its care to more industry members with Alzheimer’s and those needing skilled nursing care,” said Bob Beitcher, MPTF President & CEO. “The first floor of the KDCP will be the new home of Harry’s Haven, our nationally recognized Alzheimer’s unit.” Beitcher added: “Kirk was visionary when in 1992 he recognized the implications of dealing with Alzheimer’s not only for those directly impacted but for their family members as well. MPTF is honored to be a part of the legacy of caring for our own that Kirk Douglas embodies by his words and his actions.”

The KDCP is expected to break ground in late 2016. It will be a two-story home for 80 industry members struggling with Alzheimer’s as well as long-term skilled nursing care needs. Residents of the KDCP will thrive in small “neighborhood” environments that look and feel more like home as opposed to the typical “hospital setting.” The KDCP will also include a wandering garden and other contemporary amenities and programs for its residents.

To celebrate his birthday, Kirk Douglas and Jeffrey Katzenberg officially launched the KDCP website – www.mptf.com/kirkdouglas – where visitors can take a virtual tour of the new building and learn how they too can participate in funding its design and completion. Katzenberg presented Kirk with a model of the KDCP, designed by Zakian Woo Architects in Culver City.