Wallis Huberta Annenberg Dead At 86

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA — Wallis Huberta Annenberg, a renowned philanthropist and leader of the Annenberg Foundation Trust that owns and operates the Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage, died Monday at age 86.

"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," Annenberg's children and co-directors of the foundation and trust at Sunnylands, Lauren Bon, Gregory Weingarten and Charles Weingarten, said in a joint statement.

Annenberg inherited the foundation from her father Walter and stepmother Leonore Annenberg, who were known as philanthropists who designated more $3 billion in grants and gifts to "major research universities, hospitals, medical centers, public schools and cultural and civic organizations" throughout their lifetime.

In a 2012 interview with Palm Springs Life, Annenberg was asked about the reopening and future of Sunnylands following a renovation.

"It will be the gathering place that it once was but a very open and inclusive one," she said. "Environmental workshops, conferences and events on all of the pressing causes to which the Annenbergs have dedicated themselves. We've gotten so much pleasure out of the place. Why not open it up to the world and pass it on?"

In 2024, she was awarded the 2022 National Humanities Medal by former President Joe Biden for her efforts to "transform and bolster the arts and humanities in public life, especially in her adopted home of Los Angeles," according to the statement.

The center, located at 37977 Bob Hope Drive, was once a winter getaway for the family that hosted presidents, royalty and celebrities.

"It was a family retreat, a place where you could watch the sunset with Ronald and Nancy Regan, with Frank and Nancy Sinatra. It was a home and also a constant, dynamic exchange of ideas," Wallis said in a past interview.

The center opened to the public in March 2012 as an art museum with a cafe, gift shop and multimedia offerings detailing the founders' history.

Wallis and other family members' mission for Sunnylands Trust was "to preserve the estate as a venue for addressing global and national concerns, and to open the property to the public."

It is on a summer hiatus and is set to reopen Sept. 10, according to its website.