RICHMOND, Va. – The West Charitable Trust will donate $1 million to a new tennis facility inside the VCU Athletics Village, VCU Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced Thursday.
 
The donation will go towards naming rights for the tennis center lobby and the side streets within the Athletic Village.
 
"The West family name is synonymous with VCU Athletics. Starting with Tommy J. West many years ago, the West Charitable Trust and the club in the Siegel Center that bears Tommy's name, the Wests have given so much to the university and our athletic department. The West family bleeds Black and Gold, much the same as Tommy did, and we cannot thank them enough for their generous support," McLaughlin said.
 
The West Charitable Trust, named for late VCU Athletics benefactor Tommy J. West, has been driver in a number of Ram Athletic Fund initiatives in recent years.
 
"Under the leadership of Ed McLaughlin, VCU Athletics continues to be a positive vehicle for change throughout the university and the greater Richmond community. We are thrilled to continue our support and elevate what is already one of the best student-athlete experiences in the country. We were drawn to this project for many reasons, but the impact it will have on the city of Richmond for generations and the championships it will help produce for VCU student-athletes was very special to us. We are excited to support what we know will be one of the most impactful facility projects in VCU history and continue to honor Tommy's legacy," a Trust statement said.
 
The state-of-the-art tennis center will include six indoor and 12 outdoor courts modeled after USTA facilities. In addition to serving as the new home of VCU's nationally-recognized men's and women's tennis programs, the 18-court facility will also serve Richmond's vibrant tennis community.
 
The VCU Athletics Village is a transformative project which will be housed on 41.7 acres on Hermitage Road. The Village will include new facilities for tennis, soccer and outdoor track & field in addition to practice fields and an indoor multipurpose facility.