Clippers Send Sizable Financial Gift to WVU in Honor of Jerry West

Jerry West, West Virginia’s most decorated figure, is still helping the school even after his death. On Friday, WVU announced a $5 million gift honoring the Mountaineer legend. This donation is intended to help students pursue and complete their degrees.

Steve Ballmer, chairman of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, and his wife, Connie, made the gift to WVU as a tribute to West. The announcement coincides with Jerry West Day, a celebration of West’s memory and legacy at the WVU basketball game on Saturday against Iowa State.

The WVU Foundation has announced a $5 million gift from @LAClippers owner @Steven_Ballmer & his wife, Connie, in honor of the late Jerry West 💛💙

The Ballmer family's gift will be used in support of WVU students and the Jerry West Scholarship.

🔗 https://t.co/Rq9iY1oXkG pic.twitter.com/8zVP1kPNAc

— WVU Sports (@WVUSports) January 17, 2025

For more information on this gift: 

Half of the Ballmer family’s gift establishes a new fund in West’s name to support completion grants, which provide monetary assistance for WVU students at risk of leaving the University due to financial challenges. The goal is to encourage students to remain in school and complete their degrees.

The remaining funds will bolster the Jerry West Scholarship, which goes to undergraduate students from West Virginia with demonstrated financial need. First awarded in 1971, the scholarship has enabled generations of Mountain State natives to graduate from WVU.

“This generous gift from Steve and Connie Ballmer ensures that future generations of West Virginia University students will have the opportunity to explore their passions, discover their purpose and achieve their own success, just as Jerry West did,” said WVU president Gordon Gee.

“It not only preserves a remarkable legacy but will also empower the next wave of leaders to chart their own paths, grounded in the values of determination, excellence and service that West exemplified throughout his life.”

For more information on West’s contributions to WVU and his legacy:

West and his wife, Karen, contributed generously to the University during his lifetime, supporting scholarships, athletics, academics, health care and more to benefit his home state and its residents. He also shared his expertise to benefit WVU, offering advice and counsel to athletics leadership as needed.

“I have no doubt Jerry West would be thrilled by this meaningful gift to his alma mater,” Cindi Roth, president and CEO of the WVU Foundation, said. “His intellect, strength and character were defined by his West Virginia roots, and he was deeply committed to creating opportunities for Mountaineers to succeed. We appreciate this thoughtful gift from the Ballmer family to build upon Jerry West’s legacy at WVU.”

Known as “The Logo” for inspiring the iconic silhouette of the NBA logo, West is universally regarded as one of basketball’s all-time greats. Last fall, he became the first three-time inductee to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – as a player, executive and contributor.

West cultivated his basketball skills growing up in Chelyan, a small town in Kanawha County, and led the Mountaineers to historic success in the 1950s. WVU won 81 of 93 games while West was in the lineup and came within two points of winning a national championship in 1959.

West was also a 14-time NBA All-Star, 10-time All-NBA first team and led the Lakers to the NBA Finals 9 times, granted only winning one championship (1972). Despite falling just short in the NBA Finals, often to Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, West owns the distinction as the only player to win NBA Finals MVP on the losing team (1969).

For a related story, all 18 WVU varsity sports teams are wearing a commemorative logo of Jerry West’s number 44 during the 2024-25 athletic year.