Los Angeles Declares July 15 as Wallis Annenberg Day to Honor Late Philanthropist

Los Angeles has officially designated July 15 as Wallis Annenberg Day in honor of the late billionaire philanthropist and major Los Angeles benefactor. The declaration is a collaboration between Los Angeles County and the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills, with a commemorative event scheduled for July 15 at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica. Annenberg, who died last year from lung cancer, donated over $1.5 billion through her foundation to thousands of organizations in Southern California, supporting arts, science, education, and cultural causes. Her philanthropic legacy is visible across the region through named institutions including the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, and the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the world's largest bridge designed to help wildlife cross over an L.A. freeway. She also served on the boards of the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and received a National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden in 2022.