Matthew C. Martino

Matthew C Martino

Martino pictured in 2014
Born Mathetes Chihwai
(1992-10-27) October 27, 1992
Harare, Zimbabwe
Occupation
  • Entrepreneur
  • Philanthropist
Known for Co-Owner of Essex TV and Founder of MMBF Trust
Website www.mmbf.co.uk

Mathetes Chihwai [1], known professionally as Matthew C. Martino or Matthew Martino (born October 27, 1992) is an English media proprietor and philanthropist, at age 22 he was awarded the Essex Young Person Of The Year Award [2] by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, John Petre.[3] Following which he founded Essex TV a British digital channel.[4]

Martino is perhaps most known for his philanthropy, in 2014 he became the benefactor of his own foundation MMBF Trust which provides funding to creative and young people with a £50,000 endowment. The fund has now to date supported upwards of 1,000 recipients across the UK through grants, scholarships and funding. [5] In July 2017 Manchester Evening News reported that Martino had donated £10,000 to a Manchester creative fund to support artists, filmmakers and creative's from Manchester. [6]

Early life

Martino migrated from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom in the early 2000's with his parents.[7][8] He attended Shenfield High School. Early in his career he desperately attempted to be a TV star appearing on numerous occasions on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.[9] Martino is also the author of Lets Fly, a pilot's manual which held a short run in Waterstones after it was published in 2014.[10]

Business Interests

Martino's early business career was centred around the aviation industry,[11] In 2013 he launched F5 Air which was described as "A private airline for the affluent",[12] the venture went bust later that year after a whistle-blower at Biggin Hill Airport reported that Martino had abused his power as CEO of F5 Air by coercing pilots of the charter service to let him fly aircraft's he didn't hold licensing for, the story was initially reported by Before Its News before a handful of aviation publications picked it up.

In 2015, Martino began developing Essex TV with backing from consortium BE Group. Upon the venture's launching in April 2016 he re-acquired 30% of the company from the consortium. As an active co-owner for the media network he also occasionally assists in productions and writes columns.[13][14]

Martino is the owner of print publication Essex Magazine which he purchased under the Essex TV flag from a University of Essex student according to reports.[15] He also continues to serve the magazine as Editor In Chief.[16]

Philanthropy

Martino is the benefactor of his own foundation MMBF Trust which is otherwise known as the Matthew Martino Benevolent Fund, he launched the foundation with a £50,000 endowment back in 2014 [17] using proceeds from his pilots manual book Lets Fly and earnings from his independent film production. In the year 2014-2015 the Trustees of the Trust announced that they planned to distribute grants to the value of £15,000.[18][19] The foundation provides grants, scholarships and support to actors and filmmakers.[20][21] Following the foundation's launch in 2014, an entertainment tabloid reported that the charity was being probed for having "political interests".[22] As of early 2016 the foundation had distributed more than 300 grants and scholarships.[23] In May 2017 it was reported that the Trust had distributed 1,000 grants and scholarships across the world with the UK accounting for 90% of their grant making. [24]

In early 2015 Martino under the MMBF Trust flag launched the MMBF Rising Star Award scheme, a flagship award scheme for young filmmakers and actors which was run in coordination with film festivals, the scheme has to date been run in conjunction with over 50 film festivals in over 7 countries. Notable festivals to have run the awards scheme include Colchester Film Festival, East End Film Festival,[25] London Short Film Festival and Malta Short Film Festival.[26]

In 2016 Martino also commissioned the Matthew Martino Innovators Fund which gave level grants of £250 to individuals or groups in the creative arts.[27]

In July 2017, Manchester Evening News reported that Martino had donated £10,000 towards a fund for creatives and artists based in Manchester and Bolton. [28]

Awards

For his philanthropy Martino has received numerous awards. In 2014 Colchester Film Festival named their Rising Star Award after Martino renaming it the 'Matthew Martino Rising Star Award' [29]

Other awards include:

References

  1. ↑ http://ambmagazine.com/tag/mathetes-chihwai/
  2. ↑ "22year Old Harlow Philanthropist Matthew C Martino nominated for YOPEY". Ely Standard. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Harlow entrepreneur speaks on Essex TV's future after loss". Essex Live. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ http://www.essexlive.news/new-channel-dubbed-essex-tv-starts-filming-great/story-28934708-detail/story.html
  5. ↑ https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2017/07/31/british-philanthropist-announces-plans-to-empower-young-entrepreneurs
  6. ↑ http://northernrecorder.co.uk/charity-fund-launches-to-empower-manchester-northern-creatives/
  7. ↑ "Profiled: 10 Most Handsome Men In Zimbabwe". Zimbabwe News Live. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ https://www.newsday.co.zw/2015/02/21/uk-based-martino-force-reckon/
  9. ↑ "Valentine Exclusive: Martino says I'm Loving It". Manila Channel. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  10. ↑ https://www.waterstones.com/book/lets-fly/matthew-martino/9780957604506
  11. ↑ http://www.asianentrepreneur.org/matthew-martino-is-revolutionising-aviation/
  12. ↑ "Matthew Martino's business and political future". Syndicated News. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Xfactor Star Stevi Set To Return To Our Screens With Essex TV Show". Chelmsford Weekly News. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  14. ↑ https://www.essex-tv.co.uk/matthew-martino-jethro-sheeran-artist-well-i-never/
  15. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4315440/Police-investigate-Ed-Sheeran-s-cousin-threats.html
  16. ↑ "Ed Sheeran's rapper cousin probed by police for threats to magazine editor". The Sun. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  17. ↑ http://www.elystandard.co.uk/22year-old-harlow-philanthropist-matthew-c-martino-nominated-for-a-yopey-1-4080230
  18. ↑ https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/10/13/new-grantmaker-aspiring-pilots-filmmakers/#.WQYw6GnyvIU
  19. ↑ https://under35ceo.co/2015/04/28/meet-matthew-c-martino-22-year-old-entrepreneur-author-film-executive/
  20. ↑ http://www.thetottenhamindependent.co.uk/news/12971299.display/
  21. ↑ https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2016/theatre-n16-launches-first-credit-scheme-for-writers-and-directors/
  22. ↑ http://www.playerpress.com/articles/2014/11/01/martino39s-mmbf-might-end-up-having-political-interest_1061#.WPmmtGnyvIU
  23. ↑ http://www.zimbassador.com/matthew-c-martino-entrepreneur-united-kingdom/
  24. ↑ http://www.essexlive.news/kick-start-your-filmmaking-career-with-a-dslr-camera-from-local-charity/story-30367826-detail/story.html
  25. ↑ http://www.cuttingeast.co.uk/hidden-heroes-takes-the-cutting-east-mmbf-rising-star-award-in-partnership-with-the-east-end-film-festival/
  26. ↑ http://www.maltashortfilmfest.com/dart/20150725-mmbf-rising-star-award--07-2015-
  27. ↑ https://www.mygov.scot/the-matthew-martino-innovators-fund/
  28. ↑ http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/special-features/philanthropist-launches-10k-fund-support-13392394
  29. ↑ https://colchesterfilmfestival.com/tag/matthew-c-martino-rising-star-award/
  30. ↑ http://www.yourharlow.com/2016/06/15/harlow-entrepreneur-recognised-at-british-citizen-awards/
  31. ↑ http://www.kellylouiseclark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/BMAT-French-trip-Star-26-11-15.pdf
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