The Geffen’s Lotto donor
Geffen, Katzenberg, Mancuso, Moonves, Perenchio, Spielberg … and Stafford?
The Geffen Playhouse’s board of directors is packed with Hollywood heavyweights ? and one believer in the power of positive thinking. Of course, Cynthia P. Stafford, 46, intends to become a philanthropist-mogul ? which may seem like a pipe dream until you learn she’s already beaten the odds big time more than once.
A decade ago, Stafford went from fun-loving single to mother of five when she rescued her nieces and nephews from foster care after her youngest brother died in a car accident. “I knew it had to be done,” she says, “so I did it.”
Last year, she struck it rich in the Mega Millions lottery. “Everyone was shocked but me. I had already begun checking out financial advisors.”
Stafford is using part of her fortune to become a patron of the arts ? notably arts education. For starters, she’s made a million-dollar gift to the Geffen because she’s a fan of the Westwood theater and one of its benefactors, billionaire David Geffen. “He gives like few people do,” she says, “plus he had his own studio, both of which are what I want to do.”
Her company, Queen Nefertari Productions, has two movie projects in the works. Stafford also is traveling the world collecting art to decorate her recently purchased L.A. house and condo in New York. (All this after setting up a financial portfolio that includes college funds for her kids.)
Stafford’s life, in short, is the stuff of reality TV. In fact, several producers have approached her about starring in her own series. “It would be about a person who has acquired all this wealth and wants to get heavily involved in the arts,” she says. Others have suggested that the high-voltage Stafford host a talk show.
“Cynthia has this incredible spirit about her,” says Regina Miller, Geffen director of development. “When she walks into a room, she just attracts people.”
Yet when she wants, Stafford can be low-key. Her first major donation to the Geffen ? $10,000 sent last holiday season ? was delivered online and without fanfare. “I do what feels right at the moment,” she says, “and that felt right.”
The gift piqued the curiosity of Miller, who was further intrigued to find that Stafford had contributed to the playhouse in the past, albeit in much smaller amounts. Miller picked up the phone: “Cynthia said she had come into some money and loved our theater and wanted to support our education programs because of how important the arts were to her when she was growing up.”
A short while later, Stafford asked to join the host committee ($5,000 donation required) for an upcoming education benefit. Thus began a series of conversations in which Stafford explained that she hoped to become a philanthropist and asked for advice ? and the chance to speak with Geffen. “It was an unusual request,” says Miller, “but I thought he would want to know he had inspired someone.” While preparing a query to his office, Miller discovered the source of Stafford’s prosperity: In May 2007 she won $112 million in the multi-state Mega Millions lottery with her father, Robert Stafford Sr., and brother, Robert Stafford Jr. The three divided a lump-sum payment of $67 million.
Stafford got to speak with Geffen by phone. She also met with Gil Cates, the veteran Oscar show producer who is the playhouse’s producing director, and Frank G. Mancuso, the former MGM and Paramount chief who is chairman of the Geffen board. It was, however, Miller to whom Stafford posed the big question: “Cynthia turned to me and asked, ‘Regina, what is your dream for the Geffen?’?”
Miller told her she cherished the theater’s education and outreach programs. “Without an endowment, though, we would not be able to serve the numbers we wanted. Cynthia asked how much we needed, and I said a million dollars to launch a $16-million endowment. Then, the most amazing thing happened. She looked at me and said, ?OK.’ “
As development directors know too well, promises are not always kept. But Stafford came through with the money. Last season, she also helped cover costs for student matinees. During the summer she joined the Geffen board and became its education liaison. The playhouse’s education room bears her name. “I want to be more than a donor,” Stafford says. “I want to be part of the process.”
“That’s how Cynthia does things,” Robert Stafford Jr. says of his sister’s million-dollar move. “If she has a hunch feeling about …
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