Trent University
Report on Philanthropy
2006/2007
Physics Professor Al Slavin interacts with graduate students
A Dream from the Past
Leads to the Advancement of the Future Speaking from first-hand experience, Anne Wright, a leading philanthropist and new member of Trent University’s Board of Governors, knows of the impact a post-secondary education can have on one’s life. In fact, it is a lesson that she was taught in early childhood by her mother, Mary J. Kennedy. Always a strong advocate for a university education, Mary made it clear that “there was absolutely no question” that her daughter would go to university. It was an experience that, unfortunately, Mary herself missed out on due to family financial constraints. According to her daughter, not being able to pursue further studies after high school was something Mary “regretted her entire life.”
Anne Wright
“She desperately wanted to go,” Anne recalls, explaining that her mother even returned to grade 13 for a second year just to take the courses she hadn’t yet experienced in hopes that, with the extra time, her family could have sent her on to pursue her dreams at university. Due to the Depression, however, that dream never became a reality.
“I have had a lot of good things in my life, a lot of advantages – my education has allowed me to go places and do things, and I am happy to be able to give something back,” says Anne, who worked as a chartered accountant in Toronto following the completion of an arts degree in English and French at the University of Western Ontario in London.
“Education leads to a better quality of life. The experience exposes people to a broader world – to concepts and cultures they may not have had access to before.”
Now, through the creation of a bursary named in memory of her mother, Anne and her husband, Larry, have taken a significant step towards ensuring that other students don’t miss out on the same experience. The Mary J. Kennedy Bursary will provide assistance for a Trent undergraduate student who is in financial need. It will be awarded for the first time in the 2008/2009 academic year. “This bursary would make her so happy,” says Anne. “It would touch her – knowing we were able to do something to help students in the pursuit of their dreams.”
Learning to Make a World of Difference
Helping others is another lesson Anne learned from her mother and it is a lesson she has truly taken to heart in her career and in her philanthropic work.
Anne is a leader who has volunteered as the chair of many committees and boards of organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Association and Lakeridge Health. She believes strongly that a volunteer’s contribution of time and energy is just as important as a monetary donation. According to Anne, it is also important to be passionate about the work in which you become involved. So when she was offered the chance to apply her experience and expertise to the Advancement Committee and Board of Governors at Trent University, Anne jumped at the opportunity. “I was very intrigued with the idea right off the bat,” she recalls. Looking to the future, Anne is excited about applying her skills to the realm of education. For her, it represents an opportunity not only to be involved in an area that held special significance for her mother, but also to contribute to an experience that will shape the lives of so many young people for years to come.