More than 500 people come together at Gallagher-Iba Arena to recognize Anne Greenwood as the 2018 Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year.

Honoring an Impactful Benefactress

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Women for OSU names Anne Greenwood as Philanthropist of the Year

By Amanda O’Toole Mason

The past year has been one of milestones and celebrations for Women for OSU, culminating on April 5 at its annual spring Symposium. More than 500 people came together at Gallagher-Iba Arena to recognize Anne Greenwood as the 2018 Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year and to award 12 students a total of $53,190 in scholarships.

12 students were awarded a total of $53,190 in scholarships.

The volunteer-led group promotes a culture of giving and service that acknowledges the significant impact women have at OSU and inspires others to positively shape the future of the university through philanthropy and engagement.

At the Symposium, the group also announced that it had surpassed its $1 million fundraising goal for its scholarship endowment. Students are selected for these prestigious scholarships based upon their philanthropic efforts.

In the coming years it will be important for the group to continue its growth, said Michal Shaw, program director, and Robin Byford, the incoming chairwoman.

“The organization has done a wonderful job being forward-thinking over the past decade, and we want to continue that momentum,” Byford said. “The Women for OSU Council is eager to explore new initiatives such as educational programming and additional opportunities for alumnae to engage and connect.”

Next year’s event has been scheduled for April 25 on OSU’s campus, and will feature a keynote address by Amy Cuddy, who among other things is a social psychologist and author of the bestselling book Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges.

Cuddy’s TED Talk, “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are,” was named by The Guardian as “One of 20 Online Talks that Could Change Your Life” and has been viewed more than 46 million times, making it the second-most-viewed TED Talk.

2018 Philanthropist of the Year

Ten years after serving as the inaugural chair of Women for OSU, Stillwater benefactress Anne Greenwood was recognized as the 2018 Philanthropist of the Year.

Greenwood said she’s been proud of Women for OSU for the way the group celebrates philanthropy and impacts students’ lives through scholarships.

“Being able to provide scholarships for OSU students is a cause that is near and dear to my heart,” Greenwood said. “As a young woman growing up in the small town of Carnegie in southwest Oklahoma, it was my dream to be able to attend Oklahoma State University. With a big leap of faith and with the help of scholarships, I landed right here at the Oklahoma State campus.”

Greenwood said Oklahoma State offered her the perfect platform to be successful in school and in life. She studied accounting at OSU for three years before graduating from the University of Tulsa in 1979.

Anne Greenwood was chosen as the 2018 Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year.

During her time at OSU, she was the Collegiate FFA queen, a Drummond Residence Hall officer and a member of the Dean’s Honor Roll. After a career in corporate accounting with several Fortune 500 companies, including American Electric Power, Central and South West, McDonnell Douglas and the Williams Cos., Greenwood retired to focus on philanthropic endeavors.

Over the past 10 years she has been incredibly visible on campus as she and her husband, Michael Greenwood, have been doing what they can to ensure other students have similar to theirs.

They’ve made headlines with lead gifts to projects like The Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center, The Anne Morris Greenwood Reading Room in Edmon Low Library, the new Spears School of Business building and The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts at Oklahoma State University. Most recently the couple announced a lead gift to name the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music.
They have also endowed multiple scholarships across campus and are a constant support for the OSU Marching Band and the Cowboy Strong Student Emergency Fund.

In addition to her involvement in Women for OSU, Anne Greenwood has served in leadership and volunteer capacities for Friends of the OSU Library, OSU Friends of Music, OSU Athletics Council, College of Human Sciences Freshman Reading Program, OSU Performing Arts Advisory Council and the Provost’s External Advisory Council. She is also a major sponsor of the OSU Student Foundation and the Cowboy Marching Band, to which, in addition to financial support, she has provided thousands of snacks over the past decade. She is a member of the OSU Proud & Immortal Society, OSU Foundation Loyal and True Society, OSU Baseline Club, OSU Diamond Club, OSU Wrestling Club and OSU POSSE. She is also a member of Tri Delta sorority and serves as treasurer of its Housing Corp.

“Anne’s passion for OSU reaches every corner of interest, from student success in the classroom and on the court, to recital halls and study rooms at Edmon Low Library,” said Kirk Jewell, president of the OSU Foundation, who adds that she is creating a culture of philanthropy at OSU. “She is driven by her desire to share her blessings, inspiring countless others to follow in her footsteps of altruism and loyalty to OSU.”

For Greenwood, it’s an honor to give to Oklahoma State and use her blessings to bless others.

“Giving back and making a difference is how I’ve come to live my life, and I am proud of it,” she said, adding that she admired everyone at the symposium who has chosen OSU as a focus of their philanthropy. “And I would encourage everyone to never stop supporting our university that has given us all so much.”