Lee annenberg sunnylands trust

Today, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is an independent C 3 nonprofit operating entity governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees composed of the children and grandchildren of Leonore and Walter Annenberg. Sunnylands is charged by its Declaration of Trust to bring together leaders and experts from around the globe to find meaningful solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation and the world. Sunnylands retreats are typically two to three days and are designed to be exceptional experiences—whether they take place at the historic estate in Rancho Mirage, California, or at other locations around the world. Every detail helps create an atmosphere that provides the pause necessary for reflection—and the setting to inspire participants to exceed their own ambition for the meeting.

Sunnylands

Estate-retreat in Rancho Mirage, California

For other uses, see Sunnyland.

Sunnylands is the former Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage, California. The acre (&#;km2) property is currently run by The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, a not-for-profit organization.[1][2] The property was owned by Walter and Leonore Annenberg until and had been used as a winter retreat by the couple beginning in , when the house was completed.

The town of Rancho Mirage considers the property to be “rich with historical significance” and declared Sunnylands a historic site in [3] Located at Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope Drives,[2] the property has been the vacation site of numerous celebrities and universal officials.

Sunnylands is sometimes referred to as the "Camp David of the West."

History

Construction on the Sunnylands estate began in [3]University of Southern California professor A. Quincy Jones[3] designed the 25,square-foot[4] midcentury modern house acknowledged for its pink roof.[5] At one time, the house was the largest in Riverside County.[2] Renowned interior designer and former screen actor William Haines and assistant Ted Graber were the interior designers on the undertaking.

The property includes the main house, guest quarters, three guest cottages, a private 9-hole golf course, and 13 man-made lakes.[3] When the Annenbergs were in residence, the main house hosted a significant art collection acquired by the couple, with about 50[6] works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Andrew Wyeth, and Monet.

Many of their paintings were donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art following Walter Annenberg's death in [1][4]

The house is hidden from public view; a pink-brick wall surrounds the estate, as do hundreds of eucalyptus and olive trees and a thick belt of tamarisk trees.

Famous guests

Walter and Leonore Annenberg frequently hosted both political leaders and famous entertainers at Sunnylands. During the Annenbergs' lifetime, eight U.S. presidents, including Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Clinton, George H.

W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama visited the estate. Following the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the sdelayed s, the family of the Shah of Iran was invited to seek refuge at Sunnylands. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited for lunch, and Prince Charles made occasional weekend visits.[5] U.K.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was also a visitor.[7]

Other notable people who have visited the property include Frank Sinatra (who was married there),[5]Bob Expect, Fred Astaire, Gregory Peck, Ginger Rogers, Bing Crosby, Truman Capote, Mary Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.[5] Presidential visitors include Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, George W.

Bush, and Obama. First ladies such as Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Mamie Dowd Eisenhower, Rosalynn Carter, Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan, and Hillary Clinton have also visited Sunnylands.

The acre 0. Sunnylands is sometimes referred to as the " Camp David of the West. Construction on the Sunnylands estate began in Quincy Jones [ 3 ] designed the 25,square-foot [ 4 ] midcentury modern house famous for its pink roof.

Royal visitors include Prince Charles of Wales, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Other visitors include British prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Secretary of States including George Shultz and Henry Kissinger.

Other notable visitors include John Kerry, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elizabeth Dole, Colin Powell, along with a number of celebrities such as Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Merv Griffin, Rosalind Russell, Red Skelton, Helen Hayes, Mary Martin, Bob Desire, Kitty Carlisle, Hal Wallis, Art Linkletter, Mike Nichols, Truman Capote, Oscar de la Renta, and Eppie Lederer.[8]

Sunnylands Center & Gardens

Prior to her death in , Lenore Annenberg identified 15 acres (&#;km2) adjacent to Sunnylands as the location for a visitor center.

Frederick Fisher & Partners designed the 17,square-foot (1,&#;m2) building,[9] which is open to the public on a regular basis and offers educational and historic information about the Annenbergs, Sunnylands, and the various Sunnylands collections.

Nine acres of desert gardens surround Sunnylands Center. Designed by landscape architect James Burnett, the gardens include more than 53, individual plants.[10]

After Ambassador Walter Annenberg's death in and his wife's death in March , ownership was transferred to The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands.

Both Annenbergs are interred on the property.[1]

The Annenbergs' collection of Impressionist paintings was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York upon Walter Annenberg's death.[11] Digital reproductions created by the Metropolitan Museum now hold in the historic house.[4] Much of the Annenbergs' collection of modern sculpture, including works by Rodin, Giacometti, Arp, and Agam remained on the estate as part of the Sunnylands Collection.

The collection also includes works by Pablo Picasso, Andrew Wyeth, and Romare Bearden, as good as important works of Chinese porcelain, Meissen vases, Chinese cloisonné objects and furniture, Tang dynasty funerary sculpture, Flora Danica china, Steuben glass, and English silver-gilt objects.[12]

Several sculptures, including Auguste Rodin's Eternal Spring and Giacometti's Bust of Diego on Stele III, are on permanent display at Sunnylands Center.

The center also features a rotating exhibition connected to the art or history of the property. Limited, guided public tours of the dwelling and estate grounds began on March 1,

"Camp David of the West"

The Annenbergs envisioned Sunnylands becoming the "Camp David of the West,"[13] a place for national and foreign dignitaries and diplomats to gather for summit meetings and retreats in a relaxed setting, available to leaders from all political parties.[4] President Dwight D.

Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, joined the Annenbergs to golf and fish. President Richard Nixon wrote his Articulate of the Union Address at the house and, after exiting office, was a guest at Sunnylands when President Gerald Ford pardoned him for any wrongdoing in the Watergate scandal.

President Ford and his wife Betty were frequent guests as adequately. President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan were close friends of the Annenbergs and visited every New Year's for 18 years.[4] President Reagan also delivered one of his final radio addresses to the nation and signed the intent to pursue NAFTA from Sunnylands in January [14] President George H.

W. Bush hosted a state dinner at the house for Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu in

President Barack Obama used the site to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in ,[15]King Abdullah II of Jordan in ,[16] and ASEAN Summit leaders in [17]

References

  1. ^ abcFessier, Bruce (13 Parade ).

    In , Walter and Leonore Annenberg established The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands to “address Convening global leaders and prominent experts for retreats and meetings that matter. Explore two distinct sections of Sunnylands. Visits to the Center & Gardens are always free.

    "Sunnylands Estate will open for public tours". The Desert Sun. Archived from the original(fee required) on February 1, Retrieved 4 November

  2. ^ abcMoore, Steve (April 26, ).

    "Estate to feature Annenberg Learning Center at Sunnylands". The Squeeze Enterprise. Retrieved

  3. ^ abcd"About Sunnylands".

    The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands. Retrieved

  4. ^ abcdeNagourney, Adam (January 23, ). "A Retreat for the Rich and Influential Is Opening Its Doors to the World".

    Kissinger Joins Annenberg-Dreier Commission ... - Sunnylands: Walter and Leonore Annenberg established The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands to "address issues facing the nation and the world community.".

    New York Times.

  5. ^ abcd"Leonore Annenberg: philanthropist". The Times. March 16, Archived from the original on May 24, Retrieved
  6. ^Nelson, Valerie J.

    (March 13, ). "Leonore Annenberg dies at 91; philanthropist, widow of publishing magnate". Los Angeles Times.

  7. ^Calmes, jackie (June 7, ). "Expansive Setting for Obama's Meeting With Xi". The Brand-new York Times.

    Retrieved

  8. ^Gilson De Long, David ().&#;Sunnylands: Art and Architecture of the Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage, California.

    People came from all over: London, Paris, New York—everywhere. The Reagans attended 18 times between andincluding all eight years that he was president. Six other U. George H.

    University of Pennsylvania Press. Page XI. ISBN

  9. ^Gluck, Marissa. "Frederick Fisher: L.A.'s Maverick Architect". KCET Los Angeles. Retrieved 24 February
  10. ^"ASLA Professional Awards". American Society of Landscape Architects.

    Sunnylands is the former Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage, California. The acre ( km 2) property is currently run by The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, a not-for-profit organization.

    Retrieved 24 February

  11. ^Russell, John (12 March ). "Annenberg Picks Met for $1 Billion Gift". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 February
  12. ^"Sunnylands". Sunnylands. Retrieved
  13. ^Nagourney, Adam (January 23, ).

    "A Retreat for the Rich and Powerful Is Opening Its Doors to the World". The Fresh York Times. Retrieved

  14. ^"Sunnylands". Sunnylands. Retrieved
  15. ^Sanger, David E.

    (June 9, ). "Obama and Xi Try to Avoid a Chilly War Mentality".

    In the latter part of the 20th century, the name Annenberg epitomized glittering parties, elegant Sunday brunches, and holiday fetes attended by the top echelon of the amusement and political worlds. Limousines, often accompanied by Secret Service detail, snaked up the drive beyond the pink wall framing the Annenberg estate, known as Sunnylands. It perhaps should come as no surprise, given the evidence that both Walter and Leonore at one time held the title of ambassador. Such was their influence in business; philanthropy; and the promotion of teaching, the arts, communication, and calm that the couple established a founda-tion to ensure Sunnylands survived them Walter died inLeonore in

    The New York Times. Retrieved

  16. ^Parsons, Christi (February 13, ). "Obama is turning Sunnylands estate into Camp David West". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved
  17. ^

Further reading

  • De Long, David G.

    (). Sunnylands: Art and Architecture of the Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage, California. University of Pennsylvania Flatten. ISBN&#;.

External links