LATM's Summer Soiree Honoring MGM's Harry Sloan Sets New Fundraising Highbar

LATM's Summer Soiree Honoring MGM's Harry Sloan Sets New Fundraising Highbar

$1.75 Million in Contributions Benefits Local Mentoring Program for Los Angeles' Underprivileged Kids

LOS ANGELES, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Chairman and CEO Harry Sloan, crediting the commitment of the studio's executive management team, was the catalyst for a record-setting $1.75 million in contributions to Los Angeles Team Mentoring (LATM), the organization dedicated to connecting underprivileged children with caring adults. Honored at LATM's 9th annual Summer Soiree celebration on Friday, July 20, 2007 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, Mr. Sloan received the organization's Keystone Award in recognition of his significant contributions to LATM and his broader commitment to important charitable and civic causes.

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In addition to a performance by singer/actress Lynda Carter, the evening's gala included remarks from top Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone, who along with his wife, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, served as the Honorary Dinner Chairs at the event. Sloan's longtime friend and business associate Lionsgate's Jon Feltheimer (with wife Laurie) also feted the studio chairman, as did Kelvin Davis, a partner at private equity firm TPG and the night's Dinner Chair. Mr. Davis, a past LATM Chairman and previous Keystone Award honoree, is also an MGM Board Member.

Also in attendance at the event were Mr. Sloan's friends including Haim Saban and wife Cheryl, as well as event Co-Chairs entrepreneur Robert Altman (husband to Lynda Carter); Attorney Ernest Del and wife Danielle; Fox's Jim Gianopulos and wife Ann; E! Network's Ted Harbert; CBS's Leslie Moonves and wife Julie Chen; and United Artists' Paula Wagner and her husband Rick Nicita, Co-Chairman of CAA. Providence Equity Partners' Jonathan Nelson, TPG's David Bonderman, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and wife Linda, and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and wife Kelly were also Dinner Co- Chairs for the event.

In accepting LATM's Keystone Award, Mr. Sloan commented on the correlation between his personal and professional philosophy -- investing in people -- and the overall efforts of LATM. The organization's program, which betters the lives of children through mentorship, is also seen by Mr. Sloan as an effective means of giving back to the local community while also nurturing the talents of future community leaders.

Said Mr. Sloan: "In order to perpetuate and grow a business, we also must grow our communities and the leaders of tomorrow. No business can be comfortable in success if it turns its back on its own community."

Now in its 15th year of service, LATM is providing important mentoring support to approximately 1,300 students annually in 12 Los Angeles area middle schools. The $1.75 million raised through this year's event will directly benefit LATM's innovative after-school program serving adolescents (ages 11-15) growing up in challenging urban neighborhoods in Los Angeles and elsewhere. LATM guides middle school students to recognize and reach their full potential by giving them the tools and support necessary to make positive choices during a critical period in their lives. Since its inception in 1992, LATM has served over 12,000 inner-city school children in the Los Angeles area and has been recognized by the Los Angeles Unified School District as a premiere middle school program in the district. LATM recently implemented a Corporate Adoption Model where presently 4 of its 12 schools have been "adopted" by leading corporate sponsors including Nestle USA, Nike, Robeks Corporation, and Disney.

Mr. Sloan joined MGM in October of 2005. He had previously invested in and headed three media companies: SBS Broadcasting, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., and New World Entertainment. Most recently, he was Executive Chairman of SBS Broadcasting, a leading European media company, which he founded in 1990. SBS has consolidated its operations into Prosieben Sat.1 Media AG, Germany's largest television broadcasting group, creating a European media powerhouse.

Prior to founding SBS, Mr. Sloan had served as Chairman of New World Entertainment Ltd., which he had purchased in 1983. He led New World's initial public offering in 1985, acquired Marvel Entertainment Group in 1986, and sold the business in 1989. From 1976 to 1983, Sloan was a practicing entertainment lawyer with Sloan, Kuppin and Ament, a law firm which he founded in Los Angeles.

About LATM

The pilot program of the team mentoring model began at Horace Mann Middle School in South Central Los Angeles after the civil unrest of 1992.

Funded by an initial grant from the Amelior Foundation and implemented by California One-to-One, the program is an innovative approach to connecting underprivileged children with caring adults within a structured framework. Currently, LATM has mentoring programs in twelve middle schools throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area, including: Charles Drew Middle School and Edwin Markham Middle School in Watts, Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle School in Hollywood, El Sereno Middle School in East Los Angeles, Mount Vernon Middle School in the Crenshaw-Wilshire District, Bret Harte Middle School in South Los Angeles, Pacoima Middle School in the San Fernando Valley, Robert E. Peary Middle School in Gardena, Audubon Middle School in South Los Angeles, Webster Middle School in West Los Angeles and Fleming Middle School in Lomita. The organization is under the leadership of Liza Bray, Executive Director. For more information on the organization and it's programs, please visit the LATM website at http://www.latm.org/.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., Ventanazul, MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit http://www.mgm.com/.

   CONTACT:  Jeff Pryor   Executive Vice President/Corporate Communications   Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.   p. 310-449-3446; e. jpryor@mgm.com  

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Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

CONTACT: Jeff Pryor, Executive Vice President-Corporate Communications
of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., +1-310-449-3446, jpryor@mgm.com

Web site: http://www.mgm.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment