About John:
John N. Calley was a studio executive and producer known for his unique ability to identify, support, and put faith in creative visionaries.
Raised by a single mother during the Great Depression, John worked as a janitor at his own high school and graduated near the bottom of his class. After getting a temporary job as a mail clerk at NBC, a combination of work, luck, and creative ingenuity allowed him to work his way up from the mailroom to become a beloved producer and three-time Hollywood studio head.
Over the course of his career, he oversaw the production of some of the most influential films of the last century, including A Clockwork Orange, Catch-22, Remains of the Day, Jerry Maguire, The Birdcage, Men In Black, As Good As It Gets, and Spider-man. In 2009, John received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Irving G. Thalberg Award for Lifetime Achievement.
In one interview late in his career John said, “I feel experienced and fortunate, but if I have success it’s all about betting on the creative people.” The Calley Foundation was established to continue this legacy.
About the Calley Foundation:
In today’s America, the possibility of upward mobility is limited. This is something the Calley Foundation would like to change. We believe that young people with good ideas and talent should have opportunities to realize their full potential, and we honor our founder’s legacy by investing in unrecognized, talented youth.
While many scholarships exist to reward academic achievement, grades and test scores are not the only predictor of capacity for success. Our goal is to identify those who are exceptional in all ways, especially those whose gifts may not be so easily measured.
By recognizing and rewarding all forms of personal excellence, the Calley Foundation seeks to support and inspire a new generation of leaders in arts, business, and the community.
About the Board of Directors:
The John N. Calley Foundation Board shapes the mission, strategy, and budget of our organization.
Current Board Members:
David Zinnemann
Emily Zinnemann
Shawn Kravich
As members of a small family foundation we meet formally on a bimonthly basis to make funding decisions and evaluate the progress of the Foundation's work.
We do not take unsolicited requests for funding at this time.