娱乐英语新闻:Hollywood sign saved by Playboy founder Hefner

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national and noNPRofit land conservation organization launched the bid to claim the land and make it part of Griffith Park a year ago with 1 million dollar gifts each from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and Aileen Getty. At the original April 14 deadline, TPL still had 1.5 million dollars short of the target.

TPL then received a fundraising extension to April 30, and The Tiffany Foundation and Ms. Getty stepped forward again with a 500, 000 dollars matching grant, which TPL would receive if the remaining 1 million dollars was raised. Hefner's donation closed the final gap.

Chris Baumgart, chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust, a noNPRofit group whose purpose is to physically maintain, repair and secure the landmark, said this is the second time Hefner has pitched in to save the Hollywood Sign.

"The sign you see today exists because Hugh Hefner raised the money in 1978 to rebuild it," Baumgart said.

Film producer and aviator Howard Hughes bought Cahuenga Peak in 1940 to build a home for actress Ginger Rogers. When their relationship fell apart and Hughes died, his estate sold the property to the Chicago investors in 2002.

Public funds accounted for about 20 percent of the total, including 1.7 million dollars from the city of Los Angeles' Public Works and Recreation and Parks departments.

Hollywood leaders donated 3.2 million dollars including major donations from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, CBS Corporation, The Entertainment Industry Foundation and others.

There was a groundswell of support for the project in Los Angeles, with local residents holding rallies, bake sales, and fund-raising concerts on the Sunset Strip. On Facebook, more than 27,000 supporters have signed up. Viral videos have chronicled the partnership's efforts.

After securing permits to build four mansions along the ridgeline, the investors planned to sell the land to developers for 22 million dollars but agreed to turn it over to the Trust for 12.5 million dollars -- if the money came in before April 14.