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Todd Wagner has committed his personal resources and innovation to bettering the lives of children throughout the country via his own charitable foundation. Established in 2000, The Todd Wagner Foundation has dedicated millions of dollars to improving the lives of at-risk children and inner-city communities. One of the Foundation's first initiatives was the Minority Technology Fund , which provided resources, mentoring and training to help entrepreneurs in Dallas' inner city compete in today's technology-driven world. The Minority Technology Fund made important early investments in several companies, including Abstract Concepts, Imaginuity Interactive and Rocknot, Inc. Another signature program of the Foundation is MIRACLES ®, a structured after-school program focusing on technology, education and life skills for children grades 6-12. In 2007, the Foundation made a substantial grant that united the MIRACLES curriculum with The Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) technology program "Club Tech." Through this partnership, BGCA has established five MIRACLES Academies to date 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 has also been an ardent supporter of the After-School All-Stars (ASAS) - which offers year-round technology, academic, sports and cultural programs for inner-city children - for more than a decade. In 2001, his Foundation brought the organization to Dallas and built it into a widely respected program that has reached approximately 8,600 children through partnerships with 50 Dallas ISD schools and a dozen community- and faith-based organizations. In August 2006, Dallas ASAS announced that it had united its innovative programs with the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas so that more youth can benefit from diverse academic and recreational opportunities that will help them achieve success in school and life. In addition, Wagner has served on the ASAS national board of directors for 10 years. The Foundation was also instrumental in providing funding to bring the nationally recognized KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter schools to Dallas in 2003 and to his hometown of Gary, Indiana, in 2006. In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, Wagner has received numerous honors including the After-School All-Stars 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 has been 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 Akeelah and the Bee and The Road. He is currently developing his next passion project, The Chosin Few, a film about the landmark Korean War battle. In addition, Wagner is honored to serve 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 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 and partner Mark Cuban co-founded Broadcast.com, which they later sold to Yahoo! for $5.7 billion in 1999. Whether it is for his business interests or his philanthropic work, Wagner's results-driven, sea-change approach is consistent. 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 - Wagner insists on supporting entrepreneurial, inspirational and socially conscious endeavors. For more information:
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