Wasserman Media Group Chair & CEO CASEY WASSERMAN "enjoys a particularly close partnership" with former U.S. President BILL CLINTON, calling him "a philanthropic 'mentor,'" according to a cover story feature by Tina Daunt of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Wasserman has "allied his family's Wasserman Foundation with the Clintons in an initiative that sends his company's client athletes into the schools to talk about exercise, health and nutrition." Clinton regards Wasserman as "a perfect example of the new generation of philanthropists -- one with an expansive worldview, a strong understanding of the power of technology as a tool for giving and a bias for action." Wasserman recalls how he "met candidate Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, in 1992 at a fundraiser hosted by his late grandparents," former MCA Chair LEW and EDIE. Wasserman said Clinton was "a rock star even then." Lew Wasserman "established a personal connection between his grandson and Clinton after the chief executive left office." Wasserman said, "Bill called and asked my grandfather to have a fundraiser for him, a luncheon to talk about the foundation he was starting. My grandfather said yes, 'But only one thing: I will be there, but Casey is going to host at his house.' I was 26 at the time, and thankfully my wife -- who wasn't my wife yet -- was around to help with the combined pressure of having the just ex-president and my grandparents there." Wasserman has "donated about" $10M to the L.A. Unified School District, including a $4M commitment to "support more than 9,500 classroom projects through Donorschoose.org" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/2 issue).
