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Todd Wagner profile: Heart of a Champion Todd Wagner commits his personal resources and innovative business talents to bettering the lives of children throughout the country through his charitable foundation. The Todd Wagner Foundation dedicated millions of dollars since the year 2000 to improving the lives of at-risk children and inner-city communities. One of the Foundation’s most significant initiatives is MIRACLES®, a structured after-school program focusing on technology, education and life skills for children grades 6-12. The Foundation made a substantial grant in 2007 that united the MIRACLES curriculum with The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) “Club Tech” technology program. BGCA established five MIRACLES Academies to date through this partnership and launched a comprehensive technology training program for Club staff, all designed to help bridge the “digital divide” that exists for young people growing up in underserved communities. Todd Wagner’s other charitable involvements include serving on the national board of directors of the After-School All-Stars for the last 10 years. After-School All-Stars offers year-round technology, academic, sports and cultural programs for inner-city children. The Foundation was also instrumental in funding the charter in 2003 of KIPP TRUTH Academy in Dallas, one of the nationally recognized KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter schools. Wagner has received numerous honors in recognition of his philanthropic efforts, including the After-School All-Stars Educate, Enlighten and Inspire Award (2010); Special Care and Career Services Milton P. Levy Volunteerism Award (2008), Kappa Sigma’s National Man of the Year (2003); Dallas CASA's "Champion of Kids" (2005); and Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2002) by Dallas’ Center for Nonprofit Management. In addition to his tireless commitment to his community, Wagner fused his passion for entertainment with his business portfolio to build the Wagner/Cuban Companies. This innovative portfolio of companies spans content creation, distribution and exhibition: 2929 Entertainment, 2929 Productions, HDNet Films, Magnolia Pictures, Landmark Theatres, HDNet and HDNet Movies. As CEO of 2929 Entertainment, Wagner is the driving visionary behind important films such as the Oscar®-nominated Good Night, and Good Luck and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, as well as critically acclaimed films including Akeelah and the Bee and The Road. He is currently developing his next passion project, The Chosen Few, a film about the landmark Korean War battle. In addition, serves on the American Film Institute’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. Wagner’s business interests also include a stake in the Dallas Mavericks, as well as in Lions Gate Entertainment, The Weinstein Company and Peace Arch Entertainment. Additionally, he is founder and co-chairman of Content Partners LLC, a company that invests in the back-end profit participations of Hollywood talent. Wagner also continues to invest in and nurture a variety of technology and media start-ups. Wagner’s first significant mark in the media business came when he co-founded with partner Mark Cuban Broadcast.com as the first broadcast company on the Internet. Wagner and Cuban sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo! in 1999 for $5.7 billion. Wagner’s results-driven, sea-change approach is consistent whether it is for his business interests or his philanthropic work. Wagner insists on supporting entrepreneurial, inspirational and socially conscious endeavors, from introducing streaming audio and video to the Internet over a decade ago, to telling unique stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, to innovating programs that improve the lives of at-risk children. For more information:
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