Cleveland State University receives nearly $15 million estate gift

Cleveland State University has received a nearly $15 million posthumous gift from the estate of Katherine and Walter McCombs. It is the largest gift to come from an individual donor in the university’s history. The funding will go toward student scholarships and to establish the Katherine F. McCombs and Walter Lee McCombs Transformative Impact Fund.

According to an article on Cleveland State University’s website, Laura Bloomberg, the president of the university, was quoted as saying of the gift, “What an extraordinary moment in Cleveland State’s history. We are so grateful for this historic gift. CSU made a lasting impact on the life of Walter McCombs, and thanks to his and his wife Katherine’s decision to pay it forward, many of our high-need students will have the resources they need to remain focused on their degree programs. There’s no better way to honor the tremendous generosity of Walter and Katherine McCombs than to provide a transformational education to our students.”

Walter graduated from Cleveland State University’s College of Law in 1976. He was offered a scholarship from the university, with no other universities offering him one. The gift from his and his wife’s estate signifies his gratitude for the university assisting him in his college education.

Part of the McCombs’ gift will go toward the already-established Walter Lee McCombs Endowed Scholarship Fund in the College of Law, which provides scholarships for students who are studying law. Another portion of the funding will establish the new Katherine F. McCombs and Walter Lee McCombs Transformative Impact Fund. This fund will assist students who are experiencing financial need to pay for books, room and board, tuition, and other necessities. Additionally, the university will renovate the outdoor area between the Student Center and Rhodes Tower, naming it the McCombs Family Plaza.

For more information about Cleveland State University, visit the school’s website.