Giving to Western Giving to Western Western University

Purple and proud

Western gave Anne Baxter an education, opportunity and life-long friends. Now she is giving back

purple and proud banner

A proud alumna and former employee, Anne Baxter, enriches the Western experience as a volunteer and legacy donor.

“It doesn’t get much better; an education, opportunity, career and life-long friends,” said Anne Baxter, BA’91, when reflecting on her 36 years at Western. Her positive experience at the university – and her belief in the life-changing value of education – prompted Baxter to include a gift to Western in her Will.

Baxter’s strong connection with Western began when she landed a secretarial job with the psychology department in 1969. She had just received her medical secretary diploma and planned to join a doctor’s office after gaining work experience at Western.

But Baxter stayed at Western because the work was meaningful, and she continued learning through secondments, studying for her degree part-time and serving as president of the Professional and Managerial Association. Baxter concluded her Western career as manager of the President’s Office, leaving the university to become director of marketing and communications for the YMCA.

Accepting Western’s job offer was “one of the best decisions of my life,” said Baxter. Now retired, she gives back to the university as a monthly donor and volunteer, including serving as an Alumni Association representative on the University Senate.

She intends to enhance the Western experience for future students, staff and faculty by donating to the Western Fund through her Will. The Western Fund supports the university’s highest-priority needs, such as upgrading labs, enhancing libraries, assisting struggling students and creating a more equitable and inclusive campus.

More than 50 years since she started working for the university, Baxter remains a proud member of the Western community.

“Western has been a significant part of my life. I still feel like I belong; it’s that purple and proud spirit.”