In memoriam: Wallis Annenberg, 86, trailblazing philanthropist and USC Life Trustee

Wallis Annenberg, USC Life Trustee and pioneering philanthropist whose bold investments enriched the lives of generations of Angelenos and those around the world, died on July 28 in Los Angeles. She was 86.

A transformative force in American philanthropy, Annenberg changed how foundations engage with communities by championing bold initiatives rooted in compassion, accessibility and innovation.

Since assuming leadership of the Annenberg Foundation in 2009, Annenberg expanded its giving exponentially, investing $1.5 billion in nearly 3,000 nonprofits, community spaces and groundbreaking projects.

“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.”

Annenberg’s decades of leadership elevated arts and culture, education, conservation, animal welfare, aging and longevity, health care access, and social justice — advancing opportunity and dignity for millions.

Her philanthropic influence is evident throughout Southern California in the numerous spaces she helped develop, including the Annenberg Space for Photography, Wallis Annenberg GenSpace, The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, Annenberg Community Beach House, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Wallis Annenberg PetSpace and the state’s first universally accessible public treehouse.

She believed that philanthropy was about more than writing checks; instead, it should inspire scalable models of change, empower local leaders and create opportunities for people to connect and thrive.

“We do something different: We invest in innovators. Rule-breakers. People who are creating brand new models for change,” she said in a 2019 interview. “That way, their example can be copied, and leveraged, creating change on a scale no philanthropist could ever afford. That’s our approach, and I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.”

A lifelong advocate for education and the free press, Annenberg’s impact on USC is both vast and enduring. Since her father, U.S. Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg, founded the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in 1971, the Annenberg family and foundation have given more than $350 million to USC.

In 2010, a $50 million lead gift enabled the creation of Wallis Annenberg Hall — a cutting-edge facility designed to model a 21st-century media environment. Most recently, a $5 million grant from Annenberg and the foundation created a new multimedia production studio in her name on the USC Capital Campus.

“A courageous and thoughtful philanthropist, Wallis was our champion, particularly as 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. “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.”

In 2017, Annenberg became only the fourth recipient of USC’s University Medallion, following in the footsteps of her father. She also established endowed chairs in communication and journalism, created fellowships supporting research on women and families, and funded leadership initiatives that have helped diversify the journalism profession.

“It started with the notion that a great school of journalism and communication leads the way — serves as a laboratory for change,” Annenberg said at the 2014 opening of Wallis Annenberg Hall. “It doesn’t just anticipate the future but wills it into being.”

Annenberg’s commitment to service earned her numerous accolades, most notably the National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden in recognition of her efforts to deepen the nation’s understanding of the human experience and expand access to cultural resources. In 2003, Annenberg received an honorary doctorate from USC. She also received the Kennedy Center’s inaugural Award for the Human Spirit and the Gerald and Betty Ford People Helping People Award for leadership in improving American society. Other honors include the Children’s Burn Foundation’s Giving New Hope Award and the Getty House Restoration Foundation’s City of Angels Award, which recognizes individuals who have devoted themselves to bettering Los Angeles and its citizens.

She served on the boards of the California Science Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

In a rare national interview with CBS This Morning in 2013, Annenberg said she didn’t view her giving as merely supporting causes — she was building community. “I’ve always been aware of the privilege that I have financially,” she said. “And at the same time, I knew it wasn’t going to fill me up. I can’t keep it unless I can give it away. It’s got to be a two-way street.”

Born in Philadelphia, Annenberg grew up immersed in civic life, attending football games with her father and developing a fierce sense of independence. After studying at Columbia University, she married and raised four children before moving to Los Angeles and then joining TV Guide, a cornerstone of her father’s communications empire. She later became a central figure in global philanthropic networks.

Wallis Annenberg is survived by her four children — Lauren, Roger, Gregory and Charles — five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“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,” said her children and co-directors of the Annenberg Foundation, Lauren Bon, Gregory Weingarten and Charles Weingarten. “Her generosity and commitment will be lifting people up for many generations to come.”