Annenberg Heir Puts a Twist on Hands-On Philanthropy

The grandson of the media tycoon Walter Annenberg is practicing his own brand of face-to-face philanthropy as vice president of the venerable family foundation, USA Today writes in a profile of Charlie Annenberg Weingarten.

Explore, a branch of the $1.6-billion Annenberg Foundation run by Mr. Weingarten, does not accept grant proposals. Instead it disburses funds after it sends its own experts to places in the news, such as rural West Virginia after last spring’s deadly coal-mine explosion, and then vets nonprofit groups to determine which ones can provide the best aid.

Mr. Weingarten, who has a master’s degree in film, documents the trips in photographs and videos on Explore’s Web site.

“I can’t understand giving if it’s impersonal,” he said. “I don’t give grants by somebody sending a 20-page docket.”