Christie Hefner: a love for Playboy girls and philanthropy work

Christie Hefner, from her full name Christie Ann Hefner, is born on November 8, 1952 in Wilmette, illinois. Christie Hefner father is Hugh Hefner, an American magazine publisher, founder and CEO of Playboy Enterprises. Until 2009, Christie Hefner was the chairman and chief executive officer of Playboy Enterprises.

Christie Hefner early life

Hugh Hefner divorced from Christie Hefner mother when Christie Hefner was only 5 years old. After the divorce, Christie Hefner moved to Wilmette, Illinois with her mother, Mildred Williams. In Wilmette, Christie Hefner graduated from the New Trier High School. She also attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts. In 1974, Christie Hefner graduated from the Brandeis University with a Bachelors degree in English and American literature.

Christie Hefner at the Playboy Enterprises

After completing her degree, Christie Hefner joined her father Hugh Hefner at Playboy Enterprises. After five years of service, Christie Hefner was promoted vice president of Playboy Enterprises. In 1982, Christie Hefner became president of Playboy Enterprises. In 1985 at the age of 59, Hugh Hefner suffered from a stroke. While her father took time to re-evaluating his lifetime, Christie Hefner become chairman of the board and CEO of the Playboy empire in 1988.

Christie Hefner had giving a lot of exposure to Playboy. In 1982, Playboy launched its branded channel, making Playboy the first magazine to leveraged into television. In 1994, Playboy became the first national magazine having its own Web site. In 2005, Christie Hefner was named by Forbed among the Most Powerful Women.

The end of years 2000 were difficult years for Christie Hefner and Playboy Enterprises. In 2008, Christie Hefner decided to eliminate the DVD division of Playboy. Some staff members of Playboy got laid off. Following this episode, Christie Hefner stepped down as a chairman and chief executive from Playboy Enterprises on the same year.

Christie Hefner and Barack Obama: a friendship that will never end

Christie Hefner had been a longtime supporter of Barack Obama. As early as 2005, Christie Hefner made the arrangement so the back than Senator of Illinois, Barack Obama could speak at the annual conference of the Magazine Publishers of America. Barack Obama inspired Christie Hefner to do more charitable work as well a lifestyle change: "Just as this country is embracing change in the form of new leadership, I have decided that now is the time to make changes in my own life as well". Christie Hefner is active in her community.

Christie Hefner had been the first woman to be elected at the Chicago chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization. Christie Hefner has served on the boards of Rush University Medical Center, Canyon Ranch Health Resort, on the board of governors of the Paley Center for Media, as well as on the Advisory Boards of the American Civil Liberties Union and The Creative Coalition, and a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. But Christie Hefner major achievement is certainly with the CORE Center.

Christie Hefner spent four years working on the project board chairman for the CORE Center. Christie Hefner helped to raise $30 million to build an innovative clinic and research facility for people with HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases. The CORE Center opened in Chicago in 1998.

Christie Hefner married William A. Marovitz, a former Illinois state senator and real estate developer and attorney in 1995. The couple live in Chicago.