WV Bar Foundation Receives Anonymous $500,000 Donation

The West Virginia Bar Foundation, the philanthropic organization for the legal profession in West Virginia, announced today that it received a $500,000 donation to further its mission to advance the administration of justice and improve the provision of legal services for West Virginia’s citizens.

Board President Lucien Lewin lauded the anonymous donation: “We are tremendously appreciative of this most generous gift, especially during 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. This includes the Bar Foundation’s annual scholarship to a WVU College of Law student interested in pursuing a career in public service, which is being named the ‘Justice Larry V. Starcher Public Service Scholarship’ to 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.”

“This gift is the largest single donation in the WV Bar Foundation’s thirty-four year history,” says Executive Director Tessa White. “We are always appreciative of the donations made to support the Bar Foundation’s mission and are especially thrilled to receive this level of support. The donor wanted certain restrictions on the use of the funds, so we won’t be able to grant out the entire amount immediately; rather the gift is intended primarily as an endowment to generate additional funds in the future so the impact of this donation is maximized in the long term for the benefit of those the legal profession serves in West Virginia.”

The West Virginia Bar Foundation awards grants to non-profit and other charitable organizations which are involved in programs and activities to improve the administration of justice and educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities under the law in West Virginia. Interested grant applicants can find an application and deadline information at www.wvbarfound.org/grants.

About the WV Bar Foundation

Organized in 1988, the West Virginia Bar Foundation is the philanthropic organization for the legal profession and justice system in West Virginia. It is a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Its primary mission is to make grants to organizations that provide legal services to low-income citizens and that improve the administration of justice. Additional activities of the WV Bar Foundation include the WV Bar Foundation Fellows Program, Lawyer Leadership Institute, and Lunch & Laughs with a Legal Legend. More information can be found at the organization’s website, www.wvbarfound.org.

UPCOMING BAR FOUNDATION DATES:

WV Bar Foundation Board of Directors Meeting – Thursday, March 2, 2023 – 12:00 pm.

WV Bar Foundation Fellows Dinner – Thursday, April 20, 2023 – Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Charleston, WV.

Lawyer Leadership Institute – May 19-21, 2023 – Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, WV.

WV Bar Foundation Board of Directors Meeting – Thursday, June 1, 2023 – 12:00 pm.

Twelfth Annual Lunch & Laughs with a Legal Legend – Friday, September 15, 2023 – The Erickson Alumni Center, Morgantown, WV.