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- About SunnylandsFor 40 years, Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg welcomed entertainment and world leaders to their winter estate in Rancho Mirage, California.About Sunnylands
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The Annenberg Trust
Retreats at Sunnylands
In 2001, Walter and Leonore Annenberg established The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands to “address serious issues facing the nation and the world community.” They envisioned Sunnylands as a place where intimate and solution-driven meetings could take place as they had while the couple were alive.
Today, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is an independent 501(C)(3) nonprofit operating entity governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees composed of the children and grandchildren of Leonore and Walter Annenberg.
A Place for Peace
The Annenbergs understood the magic of the environment they created in the California desert. They believed that Sunnylands could forever serve as a place where presidents and premiers, experts and scientists, generals and CEOs—all leaders, all perspectives—could meet in a neutral location, surrounded by natural beauty, to share ideas and find common ground on the tough issues facing our world today.
A Place for Peace
The Annenbergs understood the magic of the environment they created in the California desert. They believed that Sunnylands could forever serve as a place where presidents and premiers, experts and scientists, generals and CEOs—all leaders, all perspectives—could meet in a neutral location, surrounded by natural beauty, to share ideas and find common ground on the tough issues facing our world today.
For the President of the United States. . .
Sunnylands has three times hosted President Barack Obama for international meetings, first for a transformative two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
President George H.W. Bush held a State Dinner at Sunnylands.
The Annenbergs hosted seven U.S. presidents at Sunnylands. The State Dinner for Prime Minister Kaifu of Japan was held in March of 1990.
President Ronald Reagan visited Sunnylands 18 years in a row.
When visiting Sunnylands, President Reagan met with members of his cabinet and administration. Leonore Annenberg was President Reagan's Chief of Protocol.
Founded to promote world peace and facilitate international agreement
President Obama hosted the ten ASEAN leaders for a summit that resulted in a Sunnylands Declaration.
For the cabinet, the Supreme Court, and Congress. . .
Justices Anthony Kennedy and Sandra Day O'Connor have participated in meetings at Sunnylands, often around the subject of civics education.
Sunnylands retreats are intentionally small.
Retreats are generally less than 20 participants, who are carefully selected for their diverse talents and perspectives.
The Sunnylands setting inspires participants to find common ground.
Gracious hospitality, collegiality, and civility: These constitute the Annenberg tradition and are the cornerstone of every Sunnylands retreat.
Details provide the pause necessary for reflection.
Every convening builds in time for relaxation, recreation, and incorporates the arts and humanities. Time to refresh the spirit and enjoy conversation outside of the formal meeting.
Diverse perspectives are critical to a successful convening.
Finding solutions requires collaboration among those with a broad range of viewpoints, experiences, and talents.
Meetings take place in privacy and are confidential.
Agendas include time to assess progress and adjust the agenda, if needed, to develop an idea or dig deep into a threshold issue.
Sunnylands retreats contribute to advancing solutions.
Sunnylands retreats are planned and developed to advance solutions and make measurable progress.
Areas of Focus
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. Toward this goal, Sunnylands’ Board of Trustees has approved a three-year strategy to convene or co-convene high-level retreats in three important areas.
Convenings with a difference
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.
