San Diego nonprofit starts Walton legacy project on first anniversary of his death
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — On the one-year anniversary of the passing of San Diego native and NBA champion Bill Walton, San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI) announced it will pay homage to its former Chairman with the announcement of the Walton Innovation Network (WIN).
The two-time NBA champion, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and San Diego native died in San Diego on May 27, 2024, at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with colon cancer. The announcement was made on the one-year anniversary of his death — May 27, 2025.
SDSI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of the San Diego lifestyle industry. One of the products of their association is a business group accelerator to help mentor people creating businesses.
Walton served as Executive Chairman at SDSI for 14 years up until his passing.
Bill Walton's iconic basketball collection up for auction in June 2025
Phase one of the Bill Walton Legacy Project, the Walton Innovation Network will be an expansion of SDSI's current mentoring programs that will support entrepreneurs, innovators, athletes and dreamers, SDSI's Executive Director said.
'The Walton Innovation Network (WIN) will be an expansion of SDSI's current mentoring programs — dear to Bill's heart — into a network of programs dedicated to his legacy of uplifting others, hard work and giveback,' explained SDSI Executive Director Bob Rief. 'WIN will support the entrepreneurs, innovators, athletes, and dreamers — in all stages of business from ideation, scale, through funding – who are changing the future of our industry.'
Bill Walton honored at San Diego Gulls game with bobblehead giveaway, specialty jerseys
SDSI said its business mentoring programs were built on Walton's mantra 'the best way to get to where you are going, is to ask someone who is on their way back.'
'SDSI is community, and community is people,' added SDSI Board member Mike Irwin. 'What SDSI does best is equip people for success. Bill's inherent curiosity about people is what made him such a natural helper. And with the announcement of WIN, we are just getting started and when it comes to preserving Bill's legacy, the future is full of possibilities.'
Helix honors Bill Walton and teammates from 1969-1970 CIF Championship teams
With the help of more than 100 volunteer executive mentors, SDSI mentor programs have helped to scale more than 150 businesses, 78% of which are still active or have been acquired, the nonprofit said.
Anyone running a new company who is looking for information on the business group accelerator program or those interested in providing leadership can visit sdsportinnovators.org.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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