Wallis Annenberg, CEO of the Annenberg Foundation, passes away at age 86
Haley Meberg
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif (KESQ)– Long time philanthropist Wallis Annenberg passed away from lung cancer at the age of 86 early Monday morning.
Wallis Annenberg was the daughter of publishing magnate Walter Hubert Annenberg. Following her father’s passing in 2002, Annenberg entered the role of President and CEO of the Annenberg Foundation which was founded in 1989.
Throughout her 16 years as the Annenberg Foundation’s CEO, she broadened the foundation’s philanthropic sights on media, arts and education to include animal welfare, environmental conservation and healthcare, benefiting multiple regions throughout Southern California.
The Times reports that over her time at the helm of the foundation, Annenberg gave away an estimated $1.5 billion to thousands of Los Angeles County based organizations and nonprofits.
In the valley, the Annenberg Foundation runs Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage, which was originally the official Annenberg Estate. Wallis Annenberg was the trustee of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and was an instrumental executing the mission to preserve the estate as a venue for addressing global and national concerns, and to open the property to the public.
Former President Joe Biden provided a statement, saying, “Wallis Annenberg was a remarkable person who transformed philanthropy in our Nation. Devoted to family and public service, she understood deeply that community is at the center of everything. She was a visionary giver and innovator who advocated for change with empathy and compassion. Her support for the arts, education, the environment, medical research, and social justice transformed countless lives by advancing, healing, and inspiring communities across America. 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.”
“Wallis Annenberg was a visionary who believed not just in a better world, but in a kinder one,” Governor 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.”
Wallis Annenberg is survived by her four children and five grandchildren.
Her children, Lauren Bon, Gregory Weingarten and Charles Weingarten, co-directors of the Annenberg Foundation and Trustees at the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, say, “To the public, she was a dynamic force in philanthropy. To us, she was a mother, grandmother, friend, mentor, and a force of nature whose life and family remain committed to honoring public service. Her generosity and commitment will be lifting people up for many generations to come.”
Future plans for the Annenberg Foundation have not been released at this time.
You can visit the Annenberg Foundation website at https://annenberg.org/