Skip to main content

The Blaney Legacy at the College of Creative Arts

Carolyn and Gerald Blaney

The late Gerald and Carolyn Eberly Blaney spent their lives giving back. Many of their philanthropic endeavors were at West Virginia University.

Across campus, the Blaney namesake is emblazoned on buildings and halls, endowments and scholarships. The College of Creative Arts has received much of the Blaney’s generosity over the years, thanks to couple’s love of the arts.

“In their personal lives, Jerry and Carolyn enjoyed a variety of art events, including symphonies, theater productions and art exhibitions, and were particularly fond of attending concerts conducted by Marvin Hamlisch,” said Dean Emeritus Bernie Schultz. “They saw the arts as helping to fulfill and bring meaning to our lives, and it was this insight that led to their exceedingly generous support of the College of Creative Arts, the Creative Arts Center and the WVU Art Museum.”

The family’s relationship with WVU began with Carolyn’s parents, Ruth and Orville Eberly of Greensboro, Pennsylvania. They established the Eberly Foundation and donated to charitable causes in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. As former president of the Eberly Foundation and a trustee of the Eberly Family Charitable Trust, Carolyn was instrumental in providing numerous gifts to benefit the University.

Visitors to the Canady Creative Arts Center may recognize the Blaney name from two name plates in the lobby. The first notes The Douglas O. Blaney Lobby, in honor of Gerald and Carolyn’s oldest son. The lobby received extensive renovation in 2002 - 2003 thanks to the Blaney’s support, including new wall coverings for artwork display, new and improved lighting, a box office and concession area, two ADA accessible restrooms, new blue carpeting, wall treatments and a large TV. Just off the lobby sits the Blaney Graduate Seminar Room, funded by the family, and outfitted with the technology and furniture needed for graduate courses.

The Blaneys provided generous financial support to the capital campaign for the Art Museum of WVU, and made many other gifts in their lifetime across campus.

Members of the Irvin Stewart Society, the Blaneys in their passing have funded the Carolyn Eberly Blaney & W. Gerald Blaney Creative Arts Faculty Enrichment Fund and the Carolyn Eberly Blaney & W. Gerald Blaney Creative Arts Scholarship Fund, totaling more than $500,000 in faculty and student support.

“Jerry and Carolyn Blaney were among the most gracious and down to earth people whom one could ever meet,” said Dean Emeritus Bernie Schultz. “Their belief in the power of education was unwavering, yet they also embraced the reality that the arts are integral to the learning process.

"Their many gifts help to ensure that the impact of the arts will always be with us on our journeys, both in times of struggle and in times of peace."