Harold Matzner is an American philanthropist and real estate investor who has dedicated much of his life to making the world a better place for children. One of the most notable examples of this commitment is his passion project, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. Opened in 1986, the center is dedicated to providing mental health services to children in need, helping them to develop healthy coping skills and find healing through therapy and counseling.
The Mission of The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Centre
Harold Matzner founded The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center to provide access to mental health care for children and families in crisis. This includes those who have experienced trauma or abuse, as well as those struggling with depression, anxiety, stress-related issues, learning disabilities, or other difficulties that could benefit from professional counseling services. It also provides resources for foster families and those living in refugees or other difficult circumstances.
A Legacy of Caring, Supported by Harold Matzner
Barbara Sinatra was a socialite who married popular singer Frank Sinatra in 1976. She had already made headlines for her work with abused women and children when she teamed up with her husband’s longtime friend Harold Matzner to open the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center in Rancho Mirage, California. They were determined to ensure that every child could receive help, regardless of their family’s financial situation or legal status. Since then, thanks largely to the efforts of Harold Matzner, the organization has been financially supported by donations from both individuals and corporations.
Comprehensive services are offered at the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Centre
The center offers a comprehensive range of support services, including individual therapy sessions tailored to each child’s needs, family therapy, group therapy, parenting classes, educational seminars, crisis management support, art therapy, music therapy, recreational activities, field trips, summer camps, mentoring programs and more, depending on the individual needs of each client.
A holistic approach that promotes growth and healing
In addition to traditional talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic counseling, the center also incorporates a variety of holistic approaches such as mindfulness meditation practice, yoga, animal-assisted interventions, and equine-assisted psychotherapy into its treatment plans whenever appropriate, allowing clients to explore different avenues on their journey to healing.
Impressive results & growing demand for services
Since opening its doors more than 30 years ago, The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Centre has helped thousands of children overcome difficult life challenges with measurable results that continue to prove its effectiveness. As word of these successes spread, more people began to seek out these specialized services, creating a high demand that continues today despite limited resources, primarily due to financial constraints caused by the pandemic-related economic downturn.
An enduring commitment ensured by Harold Matzner
Through it all, one thing has remained constant – the unwavering commitment that Harold Matzner has shown over the years to this cause that he still cares deeply about, even though his involvement has diminished over time due to other interests he has pursued since beginning this endeavor in 1986. His legacy lives on through this and other efforts to improve the lives of the young people around him.