Annenberg Foundation Explained

Annenberg Foundation
Type:Non-operating private foundation
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3)[1]
Founded Date:July 1, 1989
Founder:Walter H. Annenberg
Location:2000 Avenue of the Stars
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, California 90067
United States
Area Served:United States
Focus:Arts, Education, Health and Human Services, Animal services and Civic responsibility
Owner:Wallis Annenberg
Homepage:www.annenbergfoundation.org

The Annenberg Foundation is a foundation that provides funding and support to non-profit organizations.

Overview

The Annenberg Foundation was established by Walter H. Annenberg in 1989 with $1.2 billion, one-third of the assets from the sale of Annenberg's Triangle Publications.[2]

The Annenberg Foundation has focused on educational programming, and its efforts have also included environmental stewardship, social justice, and animal welfare. The foundation has roots as a traditional grantmaking institution and is also involved in the community.

, the foundation has $1.59 billion in assets.[3]

Ownership and Board of Directors

Walter H. Annenberg headed the Annenberg Foundation until his death in 2002. Leonore Annenberg, his wife, ran it until her death in March 2009. Since then, the foundation's trusteeship has been led by Wallis Annenberg and three of her children: Lauren Bon, Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, and Charles Annenberg Weingarten.

The Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project

On January 28, 2013, the Annenberg Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and several other state agencies to explore the possibility of constructing a 46,000 square foot facility in the protected Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve which would have included adoption and veterinary services for domestic pets.[4] However, on December 2, the Foundation announced that it was suspending its plans.[5] The Los Angeles Times reported that some wetlands advocates had opposed the proposal.[6] The Los Angeles Daily News noted that this was the Foundation's second failed attempt to construct this project on public land.[7] The Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Daily News editorial boards called the project "a bad fit" and "inappropriate," respectively.[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates . Foundation Centre . 31 August 2013.
  2. News: Eichenwald . Kurt . 1988-08-08 . THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Murdoch Agrees to Buy TV Guide In a $3 Billion Sale by Annenberg . 2024-07-09 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  3. Web site: Annenberg Foundation. 2021-05-26. www.influencewatch.org. en-US.
  4. Web site: Fully Executed MOU Jan 28 2013.pdf . Google Docs . January 28, 2013 . September 11, 2023.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717103332/http://ballonarestoration.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Project-Partner-Update_12-2-14.pdf Official Announcement of Withdrawal
  6. Web site: Groves . Martha . Annenberg Foundation suspends plan for Ballona Wetlands visitors center . Los Angeles Times . December 3, 2014 . September 11, 2023.
  7. Web site: Mazza . Sandy . Annenberg pulls $45 million for controversial Ballona Wetlands redevelopment . Daily News . December 2, 2014 . September 11, 2023.
  8. Web site: A bad fit for Ballona Wetlands . Los Angeles Times . September 20, 2013 . September 11, 2023.
  9. Web site: Ballona Wetlands not appropriate place for a pet adoption center: Editorial . Daily News . July 2, 2014 . September 11, 2023.