LOS ANGELES — Longtime Southland philanthropist Wallis Annenberg — whose family name graces everything from a performing arts center in Beverly Hills to a wildlife crossing in Agoura Hills has died.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Annenberg died at her home July 28 from complications of lung cancer. She was 86.
“Wallis transitioned peacefully and comfortable … to her new adventure,” her family said in a statement to The Times. “She was surrounded with love. Cancer may have beaten her body but it never got her spirit. We will hold her and her wisdom in our hearts forever.”
The Annenberg name is ubiquitous in the Los Angeles area, including the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace in Koreatown, the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the upcoming Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills.
She was heir to her father Walter Annenberg’s publishing empire, which included publications such as “TV Guide” and “Seventeen.” He sold the publishing business to Rupert Murdoch in 1988 for $3 billion, using his share of the proceeds to establish the Annenberg Foundation.
Walter Annenberg died in 2002, and his wife Lee died in 2009, leaving Wallis Annenberg in charge of the foundation. She broadened its philanthropic emphasis on media, arts and education to include animal welfare, environmental conservation and health care.
“Wallis Annenberg was a visionary who believed not just in a better world, but in a kinder one,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “She worked on broader societal issues, including funding medical research, economic development, and environmental protection, but she deeply believed in supporting the American right to the pursuit of happiness.
“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. … California is better for all that she did, and for her enormous heart and unbelievable generosity.”
Mayor Karen Bass said Annenberg’s death “resonates beyond words here in Los Angeles.”
“Wallis Annenberg’s selfless leadership and visionary spirit transformed our city in profound and lasting ways,” Bass said in a statement. “There are unhoused Angelenos sleeping inside because of her. There are young people throughout the city expanding their horizons and exposure to the arts and sciences in new and exciting ways because of her. There are institutions, museums as well as public spaces like beaches and parks that are enhanced and improved because of her.
“Put simply — Los Angeles is stronger because of her,” Bass added. “Her legacy of generosity will live on forever through the many lives changed by her service. My thoughts are with the Annenberg family during this difficult time.”
During her 16 years at the helm of the Annenberg Foundation, it gave away an estimated $1.5 billion to thousands of Los Angeles County based organizations and nonprofits, The Times reported.
“Wallis Annenberg blessed the Los Angeles community not only with her philanthropy, but also with her guidance about how to improve our community” Michael Govan, chief executive of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art told The Times. “From public access to our beautiful beaches to the livelihood of local animals, and the importance of the arts to our daily lives.”
She was born Wallis Huberta Annenberg in Philadelphia and grew up in Washington, D.C. She is survived by four children and five grandchildren.
UCLA Athletics paid tribute to Annenberg on social media, hailing her “generosity and vision” in supporting Wallis Annenberg Stadium, home to the university’s men’s and women’s soccer programs.
Beth Pratt, regional director of the National Wildlife Federation, who worked closely with Annenberg for the development of the wildlife crossing in Agoura Hills, called her “a true visionary, a philathropist who wanted to truly make an impact for the causes she believed in.”
“Wallis was also an inspiration to me, a mentor and a friend,” Pratt wrote on social media. “She didn’t just invest in causes — she invested in people. I will miss her warmth, kindness and generosity.”
Robert van Leer, executive director and CEO of The Wallis theater in Beverly Hills, said she “believed wholeheartedly in the capacity of the arts to unite people from all walks of life and believed that those connections could bring about meaningful change. In honoring her memory, we commit to continuing her work by championing diverse voices and nurturing the next generation of artists and audiences. Her vision will continue to inspire us as we carry forth her mission at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.”
USC officials said the Annenberg family and its foundation have given more than $350 million to the university since 1971.
“Wallis was tireless in her pursuit to make the world a better place for all of us,” USC interim President Beong-Soo Kim said. “Her dedication, compassion and generosity have shaped Southern California, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.”
Willow Bay, dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, said Annenberg “was our champion, particularly as a lifelong advocate for the essential role communication and journalism play in advancing our society and sustaining our democracy.”
“She inspired all of us at the USC Annenberg School to embrace innovation and impactful change. Her legacy here carries on in every life her generosity touched,” Bay said.
