Westward shift in Annenberg giving already visible

A dramatic westward shift in charitable giving at the Annenberg Foundation was clearly evident well before the death early Thursday of Leonore Annenberg, who led the foundation since the 2002 death of her husband, Walter H. Annenberg.

Of 111 grants made by the foundation thus far in 2009, only two went to non-profits in the Philadelphia--a $50,000 award to the Philadelphia Art Museum for the Anne d'Harnoncourt Memorial Fund, and a $50,000 grant to the Philadelphia Orchestra for general support.

More than half of the foundation's 2009 grants--63 in all--went to organizations in California, with a particular concentration in the Los Angeles area, where Mrs. Annenberg's stepdaughter, Wallis, and three grandchildren live.

Following the announcement of Mrs. Annenberg's death early Thursday at the age of 91, foundation officials confirmed that the foundation would move its headquarters from Radnor to Los Angeles.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.