A Family Legacy of Giving Back
Donor Spotlight: Greg Laemmle
For Greg Laemmle, giving back is a family tradition deeply rooted in history, legacy, and a commitment to community.
A third-generation Angeleno, Greg’s roots in Los Angeles run deep. Greg’s grandfather, Max Laemmle, and his brother Kurt founded Laemmle Theatres in 1938, after being introduced to the film industry by their relative Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal Studios. Carl wasn’t just a Hollywood pioneer; he helped rescue hundreds of European Jews before World War II, including Greg’s relatives, by providing affidavits for immigration.
“After World War I, Carl focused on helping rebuild Germany. But when the situation changed—when there was a change in government and a change of heart in Germany—he shifted. As much as he loved his homeland, there was a greater priority,” said Greg. “It’s a powerful reminder that we must adapt to the moment and do what’s most needed. As much as we may cling to our image of who we are and what our place in the world is, sometimes things change, and we have to adapt.”
Greg’s grandfather continued the legacy of community and service in Los Angeles by serving on nonprofit boards and helping establish institutions like the Brandeis-Bardin Institute at the American Jewish University.
As a way to carry that commitment forward, Greg and his father created the Laemmle Charitable Foundation. The foundation focuses on nonprofits working to improve life in Los Angeles, especially around key social and environmental issues. It remains flexible, adapting each year to meet the changing needs of the community.
“By the end of this year—our 25th—we will have granted more than $2.5 million to nonprofits across Los Angeles,” said Greg.
The Laemmle Foundation has supported JFSLA’s SOVA Community Food & Resource Program for nearly 18 years. Greg’s connection with JFSLA began over 30 years ago with hands-on volunteering and later grew into philanthropic leadership through the Laemmle Foundation. A friend from the Brandeis-Bardin Institute invited him to help at the SOVA Food Pantry after the High Holidays. That simple act of sorting donated groceries sparked a lasting bond.
“From the foundation’s early days, we knew JFSLA was the kind of organization we wanted to support,” Greg said. “Their approach looks beyond the issue to support the individual fully.”
While the Laemmle Foundation supports a broad range of nonprofits, from LA Family Housing to Food Forward, Greg is especially moved by the comprehensive, wraparound care that JFSLA provides.
“It’s not just handing someone a bag of groceries. It’s about choice, respect, and offering high-quality food in a setting that feels human,” he explains. “And it’s not only food; they have social workers who look at the whole picture: housing, mental health, safety. That’s what makes JFSLA unique.”
When JFSLA’s Chaverim program (now the Special Needs Life Skills Program) for adults with special needs created Bella Danza, a feature-length, Laemmle Theatres gladly offered their Encino theater to JFSLA to host a proper red-carpet premiere. “I’m happy we could be a part of it,” Greg says.
Now living in Seattle, Greg remains deeply connected to Los Angeles and its nonprofit community. Reflecting on the future of Laemmle Theatres and the foundation, he shares, “We’re still figuring out the next chapter. But our goal is always the same: to respond to what the community needs now and in the future.”
Greg views his family’s legacy as more than history; it’s a guide for moving forward.
“Carl responded to the moment. He didn’t stay stuck in one mission; he adapted when lives were on the line. That’s something we try to carry with us. You do what’s needed. You show up,” said Greg.
Greg hopes to visit JFSLA’s newly renovated SOVA Valley food pantry this summer. “Seeing the work firsthand reminds us why we give and why we always will,” he said.
