Mark Few helped put Bill Walton’s legacy to work in a very direct way Monday night in Las Vegas.
Few, along with Purdue’s Matt Painter, Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and UCLA’s Mick Cronin, each donated $8,000 to help launch the Bill Walton Foundation, combining for $32,000 in honor of Walton’s iconic No. 32. The donation is designed to jumpstart the foundation’s “Shine On Scholarship,” a program meant to provide college scholarships for young people overcoming homelessness in the four cities where Walton spent his career: San Diego, Los Angeles, Boston and Portland.
The scholarship effort is tied to the Lucky Duck Foundation, which Walton supported heavily beginning in 2005 and continued to back until his death in 2024 after a long battle with cancer.
The coaches’ gift is only the first piece of the launch. Two of Walton’s closest friends, Pat Kilkenny and Adam Cheyer, have each pledged $32,000 if fans collectively contribute $32,000, creating a potential $128,000 start for the Shine On Scholarship fund.
Few, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame alongside Walton this summer, said, “Bill was not only a legend on the basketball floor, but more importantly off the floor with all he did in his community,” said Few, who joined Walton in the Naismith Hall of Fame this summer. “He was a good friend who I admired and enjoyed immensely. It is an honor to support the Bill Walton Foundation and I hope fans support our matchup challenge.”
All four coaches were honored with the Bill Walton Foundation during Monday’s Hall of Fame Series doubleheader, which opened the 2026-27 college basketball season. Gonzaga beat Purdue, and UCLA topped Arizona.
Lori Walton, Bill’s wife and president of the Bill Walton Foundation, said the scholarship launch fits the spirit of what her husband believed in. “Bill believed deeply in the power of people to lift one another up, and he had a special place in his heart for young people who needed someone to believe in them,” she said.
“I can’t think of a more fitting way to launch the Foundation than alongside coaches and friends who loved Bill and share his desire to help others. Through the Shine On Scholarship, we can give young people who have overcome extraordinary circumstances the opportunity to pursue their dreams - and carry Bill’s light forward by helping them discover their own.”
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