Greg Bednar '82: Lifelong friendships spark philanthropy

(Generosity Matters is a series of spotlight stories about alumni who give back to Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø.)

When Greg Bednar graduated from Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø in 1982, little did he know he would still be in touch with a large contingent of his football teammates and friends almost four decades later.

"People are amazed to hear that we have an annual gathering for a long weekend for teammates and friends to catch up and reminisce ¡ª we have coined that gathering ¡®Hasseyfest,¡¯¡± Bednar said. ¡°We also have almost 100 guys on an email chain that celebrate life events ¡ª birthdays, business accomplishments, etc. These are 40+ years of relationships that still connect. It¡¯s pretty amazing and special.¡±

Bednar has remained connected to the college more directly by serving on the Alumni Board in the 1990s, and recently serving on the President¡¯s Advisory Council. He has stayed connected to Augie athletics through ¡°one of my favorites ¨C Dave Wrath.¡± Wrath, a 1980 alumnus, is associate director of athletics/media and alumni relations and has served the college for more than 40 years.

Beyond Bednar¡¯s volunteer commitments to the college, he and his brother Kirk ¡¯87 recently funded the construction of a football players¡¯ lounge named in honor of their father Gene, who passed away in 2017. 

¡°We looked for something that would impact the football program,¡± Bednar said. ¡°Dad rarely missed a game during each of our four years, and was a proud dad and Augie fan. He also taught us the importance of giving back. In our small town of Streator, Illinois, he was a driving force in establishing youth sports programs in the ¡¯60s and ¡¯70s. 

¡°Coach Bell had the idea for the players¡¯ lounge, and Kirk and I felt that funding the development and construction was the ideal way to recognize Dad¡¯s contribution to our lives and his dedication to Augie football.¡±

In addition to the skills and friendships he gained through football, Bednar believes his Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø education was the ¡°backbone that supported the many opportunities that came my way.¡± He is now retired, after serving as a partner for Ernst and Young in Chicago.

"In my view, Augie was the launchpad for me to gain the skills and opportunity to have a career that allowed me to give back,¡± he said. ¡°It was easy for me to make a commitment to give because I felt the college had given so much to me, and I felt so positive about my Augie experience.¡±