Friday, October 25, 1996
PHILANTHROPY:
Unknown millionaire Agnes Plumb allocated $22.5 million in her
willBy John Digrado
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
When Agnes Plumb passed away late last year, she held more than
a few little secrets.
She was an active and generous philanthropist, even though she
never held a job. She lived in a well-maintained, ranch-style house
in Studio City for years, collecting dolls and inviting
neighborhood children in to look at her treasures.
But yesterday, executors of her will announced that the quiet
lady who lived on Chiquita Street was actually a millionaire,
amassing $96 million from investments made by her father over 70
years ago.
As part of that estate, four separate philanthropic
organizations received a $22.5 million bequest each. The Crippled
Children’s Society, the Orthopedic Hospital in Los Angeles, and the
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., were
beneficiaries in Plumb’s will.
The UCLA School of Medicine, with whom Plumb had never
previously maintained any philanthropic ties, was the fourth
institution named in the 88-year-old’s will. The endowment ranks as
the second largest gift in the university’s history from an
individual donor.
Medical school officials plan to use the donation for medical
research and for the care of transplant patients in financial need,
as prescribed in Plumb’s will.
"Miss Plumb’s landmark donation bespeaks tremendous confidence
in each of the organizations she stipulated as beneficiaries," said
Chancellor Charles Young. "Her altruism and generosity will be an
enduring source of inspiration at all four institutions."
Plumb maintained philanthropic ties at both the Orthopedic
Hospital and the Crippled Children’s Society, which received modest
annual contributions. Her donation is by far the largest gift in
the history of both organizations.
"We didn’t believe it at first," said Marilyn Graves, president
of the Crippled Children’s Society, which offers rehabilitation and
social services to children and adults with disabilities. Plumb had
previously made a few $1,000 gifts in the past, Graves said, but
gave no indication as to the magnitude of her wealth.
Plumb made $200 to $500 donations to the Orthopedic Hospital
annually since 1968, said Eloise L. Helwig, president of the
foundation. The recent donation "allows us to have an endowed fund
to continue taking care of our children for many, many years,"
Helwig said.
Previous donations that Plumb had made to the St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital over the years totaled about $8,000
 a pittance compared to the endowment that the hospital
received from her will.
"We’re amazed, absolutely flabbergasted," said Richard Shadyac,
chief executive of St. Jude’s development organization. "It’s a
gift from the gods."
The Orthopedic Hospital was asked to use their share of the
estate for "medical expenses and procedures for needy children,"
and the Crippled Children’s Society will put their portion toward
"needy children with birth defects." St. Jude will underwrite
medical research, as per Plumb’s request.
Much of Plumb’s fortune amassed from an investment made by her
father to Kellogg Co. over 70 years ago, early in the cereal
manufacturer’s history. The stock split and doubled several times
over the years, until the 1.3 million shares had a cash value
estimated at about $96 million.
Always leading a fairly simple life, Plumb moved to the quiet,
unassuming neighborhood on the south side of the San Fernando
Valley in the late 1930s, neighbors said, taking care of her
disabled mother until her death in 1960.
"I would say she was basically a loner, a very kind person, but
you didn’t see too much of her," said Clara Hewitt, a neighbor who
lived across the street from Plumb for almost 60 years.
Plumb preferred Denny’s to the Ritz and an evening of television
to the opera or symphony, neighbors said. The few people who were
invited into her home were greeted by a 2,000 piece doll
collection, described in a 1961 newspaper account as
"museum-worthy."
Photos of Plumb are virtually nonexistent except for a picture
of her standing with her dolls which ran with the 1961 article, the
only photo left during her adult life. Friends said that she even
destroyed her driver’s license picture.
Plumb stayed indoors much of the last 10 years of her life,
housebound by a hip injury and phlebitis which swelled her legs and
prevented her from even using the destroyed license.
"She was very quiet, very modest," Hewitt said. "She became more
and more isolated as her arthritis and all got worse.
"She was happy to sit at home with her cats and watch
television," she added.
With reports from Daily Bruin wire services.