An anonymous donor's $500,000 gift to the West Virginia Bar Foundation will help fund a full-ride scholarship for a WVU College of Law student interested in pursuing public interest work.
The Foundation, a philanthropic organization for the legal profession in West Virginia, announced in January that it had received the unprecedented donation which will allow the Foundation to further its mission of advancing the administration of justice and improving access to legal services for West Virginia’s citizens.
“This gift is the largest single donation in the West Virginia Bar Foundation’s 34-year history,” Tessa White, the Foundation’s executive director, said. “We are always appreciative of the donations made to support our mission and are especially thrilled to receive this level of support.”
The Foundation’s annual law school scholarship, first funded in the 2009-10 school year, is being renamed the Justice Larry V. Starcher Public Service Scholarship in honor of Justice Starcher, who served on the WVU College of Law’s faculty for many years.
“The name change will celebrate the incredible life and legacy of the late Justice Larry Starcher, a friend, colleague and mentor to so many students, attorneys and jurists over the years,” Board President Lucien Lewin said.
White said the generous gift was especially appreciated at a time when funds needed for legal services are at a historically high level.
“This gift will not only allow for significant enhancement of our programs and services, it will also allow for additional grants to be made for years to come,” White said.