PHILADELPHIA-- The Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania will receive a $2.5 million gift from the Annenberg Foundation in memory of former Annenberg School Dean George Gerbner.

"The permanent endowment will establish and support the George Gerbner post-doctoral fellowship program at ASC so that George Gerbner's name will continue to be writ large at Penn," Penn President Amy Gutmann said.  

"What a beautiful way to honor a great life devoted so faithfully to the pursuit of scholarly perfection in communication studies."

Students from the Annenberg School at Penn and the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California will be eligible for selection to the two-year residencies for study and research of communication.

"The Annenberg School for Communication is deeply indebted to Mrs. Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation for its generous and ongoing support," Annenberg School Dean Michael X. Delli Carpini said.  

"The George Gerbner fellows will both honor and continue Dr. Gerbner's far-reaching influence on the Annenberg School and the field of communication studies."

Founded in 1958 through the generosity and vision of diplomat and philanthropist Walter Annenberg, the Annenberg School for Communication at Penn is devoted to furthering understanding of the role of communication in public life through research, education and service.

The Annenberg Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989.  It exists to advance the public well being through improved communication.  

Additional information about the Annenberg School for Communication is available at www.asc.upenn.edu.