Hanks, Spielberg, Studios Pitch In $3M to Protect Hollywood Sign

Seek to purchase land to save neighboring Cahuenga Peak from development

Tinseltown royalty have reached into their pockets to help preserve a Los Angeles landmark.

Movie stars, directors and studios have contributed over $3 million to purchase land surrounding the Hollywood sign, according to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the conservation group spearheading the campaign.

Among those writing big checks are Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Norman Lear, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, CBS Corporation, The Entertainment Industry Foundation, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, the Lucasfilm Foundation, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Time Warner Inc., and The Walt Disney Company Foundation.

Their contributions have brought the total amount of money raised to $9.45 million, but the group still needs to raise $12.5 million by April 14 in order to protect the 138 acres behind, and to the left, of the “H” in the sign from development.

“With this generous support from the leaders of Hollywood we are one step closer to preserving this valuable resource,” TPL President Will Rogers said in a statement.

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