$1.5B Donor Wallis Annenberg Dies at 86, LA Landmarks Remain

[{"selector":"#anim-80900ae5-a142-4c84-ae6b-25ce30ab6d95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-762e6bd7-1bbc-4926-b875-fcc22e168258","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08a2c097-9e05-4396-bfd7-041f8b091ae8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ac781bc-28d5-4aca-887a-8c5bc06105c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Wallis Annenberg, who distributed over $1.5 billion to thousands of Southern California organizations during her 16-year leadership, died Monday at age 86 from lung cancer complications. Govind Tekale

The heiress to a publishing empire expanded the Annenberg Foundation beyond traditional arts funding into animal welfare, healthcare, environmental conservation, and senior services.

[{"selector":"#anim-5ba6ff54-8e4b-4371-b042-bebb39770212","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce19442f-8a00-4150-af01-cf2a76ec5ed7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da9167f4-8804-4492-9ec4-d801186392eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a68d76b-6eea-4b40-8b71-b27e4df0adc0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d416a5d7-e317-40ba-81aa-3dda01232f5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: The Annenberg Foundation (FaceBook)

Her $90-92 million wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway, currently under construction, will be the world's largest when completed in 2026.

[{"selector":"#anim-b115f296-24c8-4eff-ae38-735d4bcfddb9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae75702c-be09-4118-80f3-1ad7cba03e36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adf99cbe-4704-41fb-a766-b6c05b50c74b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fead3cf-e764-43d8-8d81-d81644726e12","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77f60f6c-0220-485a-9293-065dc059fe52","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: DITF (Bio Fibre Loop)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass noted, "There are unhoused Angelenos sleeping inside because of her" and called the city "stronger because of her."

[{"selector":"#anim-e415da60-aebe-4b82-97f9-8da3ef4df034","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1afcfc3a-dff0-40f9-8667-d4d138d6e4ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28af83b7-5ab8-4cfd-a10a-22f125357ef2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bfc7e2b-1f12-4169-ad94-b617e870af6c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90e93164-5eae-41be-a8cd-02d3b8137350","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: The Annenberg Foundation (FaceBook)

The GenSpace senior center in Koreatown, launched in 2022, broke conventions with belly-dancing classes, horticultural therapy, and financial literacy workshops for older adults.

[{"selector":"#anim-15eca8da-aa68-4c96-9e66-d51c3db50f41","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3540b702-cbbe-4725-a1c5-78364939d700","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.7807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbe8e36c-75aa-42aa-9ee3-f518d2b63581","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a23fcc71-152d-4cb5-a088-b36f8687eabc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a9719021-f201-4d9d-839b-0af151b0cfc7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: The Annenberg Foundation (FaceBook)

Despite her enormous wealth and influence, colleagues described Annenberg as surprisingly press-shy, enjoying simple pleasures like watching football with a martini.

[{"selector":"#anim-8f8e4b4f-caba-493f-bcfa-e55716194d5c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f78254fe-c3b8-4f3f-bb58-d0e0bc2f5de2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5149fe94-4649-4d62-8aee-772b1d9af4a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5fcc68e-7845-43aa-b5ee-6694e99b96b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2096a932-f029-4f4b-b957-0cace9ce56d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: The Annenberg Foundation (FaceBook)

The Annenberg Foundation will continue its work with approximately $1.2 billion in assets, including completion of the wildlife crossing and a new $5 million USC multimedia studio.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c017d1d-47a6-40f9-a3c0-109f1fa92bbb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89127b3e-b2c9-4e6a-b98f-f825844ac62f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.7807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b2bfc45-e212-459e-a81c-29755fc19d6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d8caf1d-c33b-49ae-86ba-5d1fab0b12b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b306e2c1-f97d-47af-9849-a486448579f3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: The Annenberg Foundation (FaceBook)

Her transformation of Los Angeles includes landmarks like the California Science Center's Wallis Annenberg Building and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

[{"selector":"#anim-7350ee83-7089-40fa-8651-4355063f115b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07daa580-349d-4c8e-aab0-7af8ab745dc7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a514b1b7-a7a3-45fa-a596-5f125761dc85","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ceabb291-d383-4b0c-8e73-12ecbd1a6294","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95df0585-3ed3-470a-8270-7d8bbacbc78d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: The Annenberg Foundation (FaceBook)

President Biden recognized her contributions with the National Humanities Medal in 2022, honoring decades of cultural patronage.

[{"selector":"#anim-ce22d713-1e5d-430e-a027-88e778cee9b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9a8d07b-ad1a-44ef-b02f-c0b760be6d75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.29626%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-497c05fa-76f9-4e41-8134-e745afcae154","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f70259c1-2c34-484a-bd0d-2df98eb705fe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3e9fff2-d38f-4984-b1fe-93aea56615fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: The Annenberg Foundation (FaceBook)

[{"selector":"#anim-2be7caa3-7cfb-497d-b255-8f1a55f7e1b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ade8673-4daf-4bfc-a048-348018c33f9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e8ac5b4-7aae-40e2-a30f-622686c4a43a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ff029a9-9351-40b7-b586-141419f2a92b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecd652ca-f0a0-4ddb-82ef-4ad9b36ee286","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] David Attenborough at 99: Wildlife Legacy and Climate Leadership - Karmactive Learn more