Wallis Annenberg
Encyclopedia
Wallis Huberta Annenberg (b. July 15, 1939, Philadelphia) is an American socialite. She is the daughter of the late American Billionaire, Ambassador Walter Hubert Annenberg. She currently holds the position of President and Chairman of the Board of The Annenberg Foundation, a multi-billion dollar philanthropic organization in the United States.
and married Ben Ourisman, a Chevrolet
car dealer. Meanwhile, her father remarried in the year after the divorce. His new wife was Leonore "Lee" Cohn, now well-known as Lee Annenberg
. Annenberg only had one sibling, Roger, who died at an early age.
Annenberg attended the National Cathedral School
, from which she graduated in 1957, and enrolled at Pine Manor College
in Wellesley, Massachusetts
. In 1959, Annenberg graduated fourth in her class from Pine Manor and was accepted at Columbia University
. Her father and stepmother celebrated her academic success by taking her on a summer trip through Europe.
and was looking forward to Yale Medical School. They quickly fell in love and, after only one year of studies at Columbia, Annenberg dropped out of school and married Weingarten at Inwood. Children followed in close succession: Lauren and Roger shortly after his namesake's death. During Weingarten's residency at New York Hospital
, another son, Gregory, was born, and finally, Charles was born in Roswell, New Mexico
, where Weingarten was serving as a medical officer at Walker Air Force Base
. Eventually, she convinced her husband to work at UCLA (at the hospital now known as Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
) and so began the rest of her life in Los Angeles
.
She divorced Dr. Weingarten in 1975. After which she worked for TV Guide
, which her father owned at the time. She was committed to the magazine, on behalf of which she was an enthusiastic hostess to the television industry, and she even stayed for three years after its sale to Rupert Murdoch
in 1988.
She appeared on The Joan Rivers Show on the new Fox television network in 1986 alongside actresses Lucille Ball & Michelle Lee.
, she donates the family name and fortune to philanthropic and charitable projects, largely to the benefit of Los Angeles County. She is on the board of trustees at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
. She is also a supporter of the Harlem Children's Zone
, the Ojai Foundation's "Council project" for inner-city kids, and the Ocean Alliance
. There is the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and the "Wallis Annenberg" Concourse at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
.
Annenberg was inspired by and provided funding to build the Universally-Accessible Treehouse in Torrance, California
. “It is thrilling to be able to make it possible for people of all ages and physical abilities to experience the world from a treehouse,” said Wallis Annenberg. “There's a sense of vision, fun and pure escape that only such a structure can provide.”
Annenberg's children (Lauren, Gregory and Charles) serve on the board of trustees of the Annenberg Foundation
. They bring to the table their own interests. Ms. Bon, an artist, directs The Metabolic STudio at the intersection of art and philanthropy . Gregory Weingarten is a painter, Paris
resident, and American Friend of the Paris Opera and Ballet. Charles Annenberg Weingarten, a graduate of Duke University
and USC Film School, has launched explore.org, a philanthropic community whose mission is to champion the selfless acts of others, to create a portal into the soul of humanity and to inspire lifelong learning.Despite the majority of her fathers multi billion dollar fortune having been bequeathed to the Annenberg Foundation, sources indicate she has individual net worth of 500 million dollars.
Early life
Annenberg grew up in Philadelphia, where her father owned a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) estate called "Inwood." When she was ten years old, however, her parents split up and her mother,Veronica Dunkelman moved to Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and married Ben Ourisman, a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
car dealer. Meanwhile, her father remarried in the year after the divorce. His new wife was Leonore "Lee" Cohn, now well-known as Lee Annenberg
Leonore Annenberg
Leonore Cohn Annenberg , also known as Lee Annenberg, was an American businesswoman, government official, and philanthropist. She is former Chief of Protocol of the United States . Annenberg was married to Walter Annenberg, who was an Ambassador to the United Kingdom and a prominent businessman...
. Annenberg only had one sibling, Roger, who died at an early age.
Annenberg attended the National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School is an independent Episcopal private day school for girls located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C...
, from which she graduated in 1957, and enrolled at Pine Manor College
Pine Manor College
Pine Manor College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1911 and currently serves almost 500 students, 75% of whom live on the campus.-Most diverse:...
in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
. In 1959, Annenberg graduated fourth in her class from Pine Manor and was accepted at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Her father and stepmother celebrated her academic success by taking her on a summer trip through Europe.
Marriage and divorce
While in Venice, she met Seth Weingarten. He had just completed his undergraduate education at Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and was looking forward to Yale Medical School. They quickly fell in love and, after only one year of studies at Columbia, Annenberg dropped out of school and married Weingarten at Inwood. Children followed in close succession: Lauren and Roger shortly after his namesake's death. During Weingarten's residency at New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
, another son, Gregory, was born, and finally, Charles was born in Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
, where Weingarten was serving as a medical officer at Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base located three miles south of the central business district of Roswell, a city in Chaves County, New Mexico, US...
. Eventually, she convinced her husband to work at UCLA (at the hospital now known as Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
) and so began the rest of her life in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
She divorced Dr. Weingarten in 1975. After which she worked for TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, which her father owned at the time. She was committed to the magazine, on behalf of which she was an enthusiastic hostess to the television industry, and she even stayed for three years after its sale to Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
in 1988.
She appeared on The Joan Rivers Show on the new Fox television network in 1986 alongside actresses Lucille Ball & Michelle Lee.
Philanthropy
Annenberg today carries on her father's legacy as a public benefactor. As chairman and president of the Annenberg FoundationAnnenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a private foundation that provides funding and support to non-profit organizations in the United States and around the world...
, she donates the family name and fortune to philanthropic and charitable projects, largely to the benefit of Los Angeles County. She is on the board of trustees at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an art museum in Los Angeles, California. It is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles, adjacent to the George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits....
. She is also a supporter of the Harlem Children's Zone
Harlem Children's Zone
The Harlem Children's Zone is a non-profit organization for poverty-stricken children and families living in Harlem, providing free support for the children and families in the form of parenting workshops, a pre-school program, three public charter schools, and child-oriented health programs for...
, the Ojai Foundation's "Council project" for inner-city kids, and the Ocean Alliance
Ocean alliance
Ocean Alliance, Inc., a 5013 organization, is dedicated to the conservation of whales and their marine environment through research and education. The organization is based in Gloucester, Massachusetts in the United States....
. There is the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and the "Wallis Annenberg" Concourse at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
.
Annenberg was inspired by and provided funding to build the Universally-Accessible Treehouse in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
. “It is thrilling to be able to make it possible for people of all ages and physical abilities to experience the world from a treehouse,” said Wallis Annenberg. “There's a sense of vision, fun and pure escape that only such a structure can provide.”
Annenberg's children (Lauren, Gregory and Charles) serve on the board of trustees of the Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a private foundation that provides funding and support to non-profit organizations in the United States and around the world...
. They bring to the table their own interests. Ms. Bon, an artist, directs The Metabolic STudio at the intersection of art and philanthropy . Gregory Weingarten is a painter, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
resident, and American Friend of the Paris Opera and Ballet. Charles Annenberg Weingarten, a graduate of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and USC Film School, has launched explore.org, a philanthropic community whose mission is to champion the selfless acts of others, to create a portal into the soul of humanity and to inspire lifelong learning.Despite the majority of her fathers multi billion dollar fortune having been bequeathed to the Annenberg Foundation, sources indicate she has individual net worth of 500 million dollars.