"I WANT TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN VOICE
UNPOPULAR OPINIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, AS A RESULT
OF THAT, A SOCIETY GROWS AND MATURES."
-Hugh M. Hefner
FIRST AMENDMENT AWARDS ANNOUNCES 2019 WINNERS
The Hugh M. Hefner Foundation celebrated seven individuals this year, including students, authors, an epidemiologist and two renowned attorneys. Our winners (L to R): Dr. George Luber, Grace Marion, Floyd Abrams, Christie Hefner (Foundation President), Christian Bales, Ted Boutrous, and Greg Lukianoff. Not pictured: Jonathan Haidt.
HEF'S TYPEWRITERS ON DISPLAY
Hef's 1963 Royal Empress typewriter is currently on display at The American Writers Museum in Chicago. AWM live streamed a virtual tour of their "Tools of the Trade" exhibit, which you can view on YouTube Live. Hef's Underwood Standard was also recently featured at a University of Chicago at Urbana-Champaign (his alma mater) exhibition.
FILM & TELEVISION PROJECTS
This documentary from Oscar-winning producer/director, Brigitte Berman, explores Hef as a man of his times who also transcended them and features an array of archival footage from his landmark TV shows, Playboy's Penthouse and Playboy After Dark. An Official Selection of the Telluride Film Festival, it also won the Audience Award at the Whistler Film Festival. VIEW MORE
Hef served as Executive Producer on the documentary, "Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché." Narrated by Jodie Foster and produced/directed by Pamela B. Green, the film tells the story of the first female filmmaker, largely forgotten and missing from history books. It debuted at Cannes to a standing ovation and was featured at many other festivals. VIEW MORE
American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story (Amazon Original) | 1:37
A fascinating docuseries chronicling Playboy magazine's charismatic founder, Hugh Hefner, and his impact on global culture. Told from his unique perspective with never-before-seen footage from his private archive, discover the captivating story about the man behind the bunny. VIEW MORE
NEWSEUM'S 2017 FREE EXPRESSION AWARDS
Hef and Christie were honored at the Newseum's 2017 Free Expression Awards, which recognizes those who work to defend and promote our First Amendment rights. They received the Free Expression Award in the Arts & Entertainment category.
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF HUGH M. HEFNER
Julien's Auctions hosted a two-day live auction that brought in over $3M and directly benefitted the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation. Sale highlights included Hef's Underwood Standard Portable typewriter, his iconic smoking jacket, his personal copy of the inaugural issue of Playboy, and his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star.
HUGH HEFNER TRIBUTES
Hef's legacy is a life lived openly, honestly, and in defense of all Americans - regardless of race, creed, gender, or sexual proclivity. His civil rights activism, women's rights advocacy, and dedication to upholding the First Amendment was reported on extensively following his death.