Obie Benz

Obie Benz created a number of charitable organizations to support social justice causes. In 1971 he started the Vanguard Foundation, which made grants to San Francisco activist groups and helped found the Film Fund to support documentary filmmakers. In 1975 he organized Pacific Alliance, which produced benefit rock concerts for anti-nuclear power and American Indian treaty rights organizations with the help of Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and Graham Nash. In the 80's he began making documentaries. Americas in Transitino challenged US foreign policy in Latin America and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1981, as well as winning numerous prizes. He made two anti-weapons music videos which John Denver used as a backdrop in concert performances. In the late 80's he produced and directed Heavy Petting, a comedy about teen sexuality which played theatrically in 75 cities and sold every major foreign market. In the 1995 he produced and directed In My Generation, a history about rock and roll in the 60's, which became the best selling part of the Warner Bros / Time Life series. In the 90's Amnesty International hired Benz to make many short films about people and organizations supporting human rights issues. He also produced a DVD for V-Day, an organization created by Eve Ensler, the writer of the Vagina Monologues, to oppose violence against women.

Mr Benz has been featured in articles and books about progressive philanthropy, as he was a key organizer in the 70's of groups encouraging people with inherited money to make charitable contributions. He was an editor and contributor to the book Robin Hood Was Right, which suggested ways people could support community organizing and other activist projects. He is currently writing a memoir.