Philanthropist William Wrigley Dies at 66, Leaves Behind $20 Million Pledge to USC and Environmental Conservation

University of Southern California trustee William Wrigley, chairman of the Wrigley Company and a prominent philanthropist, passed away on March 8 at 66 due to pneumonia in Chicago. In a remarkable display of generosity, Wrigley had announced plans to donate $5 million to the USC Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies, bringing his total support to $15 million. A devoted steward of the Wrigley family's 80-year-old interest in Santa Catalina Island, Wrigley is survived by his wife and three children.

Key Takeaways:

William Wrigley, a prominent philanthropist and USC trustee, passed away due to pneumonia at 66.
Wrigley had pledged $5 million to the USC Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies, bringing his total support to $15 million.
The Wrigley family has maintained a significant interest in Santa Catalina Island for 80 years.
DaimlerChrysler AG awarded $200,000 in grants to community groups in Fresno and six other U.S. cities to prevent drivers who run red lights.
The grants will be used for public education, law enforcement, and new equipment.
Drivers who ignore red lights are responsible for more than 1 million crashes at U.S. intersections every year, resulting in thousands of fatalities and around 250,000 injuries.
The Marine Corps plans to spend $400 million on information technology, with top officials from companies like CISCO Systems and 3Com Corp. advising on budgeting.
A consortium of 27 cities and water agencies has agreed to spend more than $5 million to protect endangered animals and plants along a 44-mile pipeline.
The agreement will provide up to $5.5 million for habitat acquisition or other measures to protect vulnerable species.

Statistics:

William Wrigley was 66 years old at the time of his passing.
The Wrigley Company has maintained an interest in Santa Catalina Island for 80 years.
DaimlerChrysler AG has awarded $200,000 in grants to community groups in seven U.S. cities.
Drivers who ignore red lights are responsible for more than 1 million crashes at U.S. intersections every year.
Around 250,000 people are injured in red light-running crashes annually.
The Marine Corps plans to spend $400 million on information technology.
A consortium of 27 cities and water agencies has agreed to spend over $5 million to protect endangered animals and plants.

Sources:

LOS ANGELES, March 10 (UPI)
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 10 (UPI)
WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI)
LOS ANGELES, March 10 (UPI)