Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, 86, died at home Monday morning from complications related to lung cancer, her family shared in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
“Wallis transitioned peacefully and comfortable this morning to her new adventure,” the statement said. “Cancer may have beaten her body but it never got her spirit. We will hold her and her wisdom in our hearts forever.”
Annenberg’s name is etched across numerous institutions throughout Los Angeles, including the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center, the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace senior center, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and USC’s Wallis Annenberg Hall.
Her legacy as a public benefactor will continue posthumously when the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the world’s largest animal overpass, opens next year over the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills.
The heiress to U.S. ambassador and businessman Walter Annenberg’s publishing empire devoted herself to serving Los Angeles as chair and president of the Annenberg Foundation. The Foundation — valued at about $1.5 billion — was founded by Walter in 1989 after selling TV Guide and other publications to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
Having worked at TV Guide during her father’s ownership of Triangle Publications, Annenberg stepped into the role of vice president of the foundation following his death in 2002. After her stepmother, Leonore, passed away, Wallis took the helm and expanded the foundation’s mission beyond media, the arts and education to include animal welfare, environmental conservation and healthcare.
During her 16-year tenure as president and CEO, the nonprofit organization donated about $1.5 billion to thousands of organizations in Southern California, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A steadfast supporter of education and a free press, Wallis Annenberg left a far-reaching mark on USC. In 1971, her father established the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The Annenberg family and foundation has since contributed over $350 million to the university.
In 2010, her $50 million gift made possible the construction of Wallis Annenberg Hall, a state-of-the-art facility that houses the Annenberg Media Center. More recently, a $5 million grant from Annenberg and her foundation funded the creation of a multimedia production studio named after her on USC’s Capital Campus in Washington, D.C.
“Wallis was tireless in her pursuit to make the world a better place for all of us,” USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim said in a statement. “Her dedication, compassion and generosity have shaped Southern California, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.”
“Courageous, thoughtful and exceedingly generous, Wallis Annenberg was our champion, a lifelong advocate for the essential role communication and journalism play in advancing our society and sustaining our democracy,” USC Annenberg Dean Willow Bay said.
Bay and Annenberg knew each other before Bay started her tenure at USC. The two were colleagues, collaborators and friends.
“I think when you peel back the layers, there’s so much more to Wallis than even the magnitude of the philanthropy she contributed,” Bay said in an interview with Annenberg Media. “There are very few heroes amongst us, and she was one, and I will always think of her as our hero.”
Bay said she viewed Annenberg as a personal mentor.
“She really taught me to see, to imagine what was possible, to not set limits, to think big, to plan boldly and courageously and then execute rigorously to be able to achieve those dreams and aspirations,” Bay said.
In 2017, Annenberg became the fourth individual honored with USC’s University Medallion, 23 years after her father received the same award. She also established endowed chairs in communication and journalism, launched fellowships supporting research on women and families and backed leadership programs aimed at increasing diversity within the journalism industry.
Wallis Annenberg served for many years on the boards of both L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA. In 2002, she donated $10 million to endow LACMA’s director position.
“Wallis Annenberg blessed the Los Angeles community not only with her philanthropy, but also with her guidance about how to improve our community,” said LACMA Chief Executive Michael Govan, who filled that endowed position in 2006.
Annenberg’s dedication to service earned her numerous awards, including the prestigious National Humanities Medal presented by President Joe Biden in recognition of her philanthropic efforts.
“She was a visionary giver and innovator who advocated for change with empathy and compassion,” said former president Joe Biden in a statement on X. “Jill and I send our love and prayers to the entire Annenberg family. May God bless Wallis Annenberg, a trailblazer who was unlike any other.”
Governor Gavin Newsom also remarked on Annenberg’s legacy.
“She deeply believed in supporting the American right to the pursuit of happiness,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “She was always determined to find new ways to help people achieve a better, more joyful quality of life, and above all else, to help people connect with each other.”
Born in Philadelphia, she moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s after marrying neurosurgeon Seth Weingarten. The couple divorced in 1975.
She is survived by four children and five grandchildren.