Chairman of the Board, President and CEO
The Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is built on a 30-year family legacy that, at its core, is about innovation and impactful grantmaking. This spirit of innovation and impactful grantmaking of the Foundation has thrived – and been expanded – under the leadership of chairman, president and CEO Wallis Annenberg for the past twelve years. She has made more than 2,800 grants to nonprofits and community organizations (a total of more than $2 billion).
Annenberg’s innovation and dedication to her beloved community of Los Angeles can be seen on many fronts. Just a few impactful examples include her idea to save a historical landmark in Santa Monica and turn it into the area’s only free, open-to-the-public beach house, now called the Annenberg Community Beach House. She also founded the first universally-accessible treehouse in a public space in California. The treehouse, a 2,500 square foot wooden structure, was designed to give children and adults of all ages and physical abilities an awe-inspiring experience. The landmark post office building in Beverly Hills was on the verge of being torn down when Annenberg stepped in to save the historic landmark and create The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. A life-long animal lover, Annenberg founded the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace in Playa Vista as well.
These and many other resonant philanthropic activities – including her leadership in the very challenging years of 2020-21 to address gaps in health care, food insecurity, and racial equity in Los Angeles that were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic – are examples that truly set her apart as a tremendous asset to the community and deserving recipient of this year’s Women’s Leadership Legacy Award.
2021 Women’s Leadership Awards: Women’s Leadership Legacy Award
