Johnny Brenden: Philanthropist

Johnny Brenden sponsored the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas Boys Nite Out which pairs community members with an at-risk youth for a night of fun and education. Johnny Brenden has been a proud sponsor of the event for the past five years.

Johnny Brenden hosted a special dinner for Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer of Southern Nevada and their families—plus special guests, students from Burk High School. The children, students, and their families enjoyed a specially catered Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day 2007 at the Palms Casino Resort and had the opportunity to watch Disney’s “Enchanted” in the Brenden Theatres following the dinner.

Johnny Brenden learned at a young age from his grandfather, Ted Mann, the importance of giving back to the community. Community service and contributing to the community remain his personal and corporate priorities. In addition to Ted Mann’s business ventures, Mann had a philanthropic spirit, creating the Ted Mann Foundation, which contributed to a variety of charities. Mann helped found the Boys Club of Minneapolis and the Landmark West School for youngsters with dyslexia. In 1993, he made substantial contributions to construct the Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota. Other contributions and organizations he supported included Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Minnesota for work with mentally challenged adults and youth, UCLA’s resource center for women with breast cancer, Pepperdine University, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Variety International and other educational organizations. Upon Mann’s passing in 2001, the Ted Mann Foundation was distributed among his two daughters and four grandchildren who continue the Mann family tradition of making a positive difference. The ongoing mission of the Ted and Roberta Mann Foundation is to keep alive the legacy established by Ted Mann. Run by Mann’s eldest daughter, Roberta and her two children, Johnny and Blythe Brenden, the Ted and Roberta Mann Foundation continues to make a difference by supporting numerous Arts, Education, Health, Social Service and Religious organizations worldwide with special emphasis in Minnesota and Southern Nevada and California. Through the efforts of his family’s foundation and his company, the Brenden Theatre Corporation, Johnny Brenden has supported numerous charitable organizations primarily in the communities where his theatres are located in Northern California and Southern Nevada. Although Johnny doesn’t have any children personally, children’s organizations are especially important causes he supports. Charities supported include Variety – The Children’s Charity of Southern Nevada, Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer of Southern Nevada, Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, Nevada Partnership of Homeless Youth, KlassKids Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Las Vegas Natural History Museum. Johnny routinely invites at-risk, disadvantaged and handicapped children to his theatres to enjoy the movie going experience. Thousands of children have benefited from his generosity and have had the opportunity to see a motion picture in a movie theatre, a rare treat from many of them. His corporation also contributes thousands of dollars worth of in-kind donations each year supporting schools and numerous social, charitable and community organizations. Organizations have included Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, Sunrise Children’s Hospital, UNLV Short Film Archive, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, Olive Crest, Rainbow Company, Safe Nest, Department of Parks & Community Services, D.A.R.E., Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, Southern Nevada Cancer Research Foundation, The Rape Crisis Center, Southern Nevada Center for Independent Living, American Heart Association, Las Vegas Day School, and Lutheran Social Services of Nevada and many others. Other charities that Johnny Brenden has supported include Landmark Schools, The American Jewish Committee, Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation, Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, Amer-I-Can for Social Change, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Fulfillment Fund, AT Children’s Project, Opportunity Village, 4 Kids – 4 Art – 4 Charity, The Greater Las Vegas Inner-City Games, Children of Peace, Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund, Las Vegas Rattlers Traveling Baseball Team, Nevada Child Seekers, Children of the Night, Los Angeles Police Foundation, Friends of Tanaka Elementary School, Gallo Center for the Arts, Mt. Diablo Soccer League and CHP 11-99 Foundation. In early 2005 in response to the Tsumani disaster in Asia, Johnny spearheaded efforts with the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce and community leaders and organizations to raise nearly $70,000 to support UNICEF and other relief efforts. Johnny Brenden is also a strong supporter of independent film making as well as the arts and annually hosts the CineVegas Film Festival in Las Vegas and has provided in-kind support for many aspiring filmmakers.

“I believe it is very important to contribute to the community and to society in general. My grandfather, Ted Mann, had a philanthropic spirit, creating the Ted Mann Foundation which contributed to a variety of charities. I support as many groups as I can, especially at-risk, disadvantaged and sick children, and provide benefit movie screenings and refreshments for these children who have never been in a movie theater before. It is such a joy for me to see their excitement when they see a movie on a big screen for the very first time. While seeing a movie might not change their lives or the world in general, I hope the experience will be memorable and life enriching to them.”

Johnny Brenden President & CEO, Brenden Theatre Corporation To request a financial or in-kind contribution from the Brenden Mann Foundation, send, in writing on organization letterhead, a letter of request including name and description of organization, 501(c)3 status, Federal Tax ID Number, purpose of request and amount or item requested to: Brenden Mann Foundation Attn: Kathryn Jensen, 4321 West Flamingo Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89103 Office: (612) 850-2981 Contribution requests are accepted on an ongoing basis. Please allow 3-4 weeks for response.

Here are some of the charitable organizations supported by Johnny Brenden. Click on the organization names to learn more about them!