Over spring break, the University lost one of its closest friends when philanthropist Leonore "Lee" Annenberg died at her California home at the age of 91.
Annenberg, as many now know, had a long and storied connection to Penn and Philadelphia. Annenberg was noted for her interested in arts, culture and education, and she served on the boards of many like-minded Philadelphia area institutions, including Penn, where she was an emeritus trustee and held an honorary degree. She and her husband, former Ambassador Walter Annenberg, donated millions to Penn over the decades, funding everything from professorships to the Annenberg School for Communication.
It isn't the number of dollars, however, but rather their direction that determined their impact. The Annenbergs' donations consistently centered around initiatives in education, democracy and communication, and propelled University initiatives in these fields forward.
As a teaching newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian holds these ideals to the highest standard, and Annenberg's gifts and contributions in this area helped countless numbers of Philadelphians and Penn students earn educations and launch their careers in civil service or communication, as well as law, politics and more.
Annenberg was noted for her thoughtfulness, generosity and intellectual curiosity. Through her many gifts to Penn, these qualities will be her legacy, and for that we cannot be more grateful.
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