The Annenberg Challenge

Ambassador Annenberg announced a “Challenge to the Nation” in December 1993 with a $500 million grant to improve public schools. As the largest single gift ever made to public education, the Annenberg Challenge was designed to unite the resources and ideas of those committed to increasing the effectiveness of public schooling. Eighteen locally designed Challenge projects operated in 35 states, funding 2,400 public schools that served more than 1.5 million students and 80,000 teachers. Recognizing that no single gift could improve all schools, the Challenge served as a catalyst to energize and support educational reform efforts across the country.

The announcement of the gift was made alongside President Bill Clinton in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Watch a video of the moment from C-SPAN here.