William K. Greenaway & Anne C. Bawden Fund
(unrestricted named fund)
Anne Bawden and Bill Greenaway married in Windsor in 1967. They lived in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Ontario, but always planned on returning to ‘home territory’. They are among the first contributors to The Guelph Community Foundation and continue to provide support over ten years later.
This is their story as told by Bill:
“A close relative died in Guelph in 1990. Her will provided for several community organizations that she supported in her life. How much more lasting our dear one’s legacy would have been had she been able to contribute to a community foundation. With her in mind Anne and I became the very first contributors to The Guelph Community Foundation and the first to establish a ‘named fund’.
We’re proof that people need not be extremely wealthy to establish a fund – we established a fund with a modest contribution intending to increase it with a testamentary gift. We decided not to specify the use of the fund, leaving that to The Foundation’s Board of Directors. We know that community needs and priorities will change. We trust the Board to determine priorities. Having served on The Foundation’s Board (and more lately on the Grants Committee) I know the effort that goes into careful stewardship.
Anne and I have deep roots in the area. Anne was born the third generation in the same room of the same farmhouse in Stephen Township, Huron County. Her great-great grandfather established the first sawmill in Waterloo County early in the 19th century. I have a framed copy (original in safe-deposit) of the ticket that my great-great grandparents used to sail in 1857 from Liverpool to settle in Guelph. My Greenaway ancestors farmed in West Garafraxa. My paternal grandfather was an ‘elder’ at Dublin Street United Church in its early years.
Following our marriage, we moved to Nova Scotia. I finished a Ph.D. then we moved to Winnipeg. In 1973 I joined the University of Winnipeg faculty, later becoming Chair of its Sociology Department. Anne earned a degree at the University of Manitoba. She later became the first Executive Director of the Canadian Bar Association (Manitoba Branch). In June 1984, I was called to the Bar of Manitoba. In 1987 I was appointed Executive Director of the Manitoba Law Foundation. That’s how I became a ‘foundation administrator’.
While living in Winnipeg, in both our professional lives and as community volunteers, we came to appreciate the value of The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada’s first community foundation.
In 1997, we realized our retirement plans and moved to Guelph. We joined the Rotary Club of Guelph becoming involved in its many projects. As Rotarians we were members of a committee that formed a Probus Club, part of an international group of clubs made up of retired former business and professional men and women. Being involved in the community in which we live – has been, and will always be – of great importance to us.”
In addition to their many community volunteer activities, Bill is an accomplished musician and plays double bass, bass guitar, mandolin, and Scottish pipes at dances, community events, and retirement homes. In 2000, as part of the millennial project, Anne arranged with the City of Guelph to purchase trees at her own expense to plant in St. George’s Park. You may see her sometimes during tending the tree garden at the corner of Metcalfe and Grange. The work Bill and Anne have done and continue to do in both their professional and volunteer roles exemplify how much of a difference two people can make in the lives of many.