A Gift Rooted in Community
When John Marshall (BES 1985) heard about Grebel’s Windows to the Future fundraising campaign, he was out riding his bicycle. His first thought was “I can do something meaningful, really do something!” John and his wife, Wendy Derrick, were already generous donors, supporting Grebel and its students through gifts to capital projects and student awards. This time, John decided to contribute $500,000 to help revitalize the residence. “In a world that sometimes seems difficult to change or have a meaningful impact, I knew I wanted to help push this campaign over the finish line,” he said. “I also knew that any dollar donated to Grebel would be well managed, be put toward the highest priority needs, and have a huge impact for years to come.”
When John arrived at Grebel as a transfer student in 1982, he was just looking for a place to live. A last-minute opening in the residence gave him a place at Grebel, where he found a community that changed his life. “It shaped not only my studies but also my entire social life and gave me a life-long network of friends,” he said.
As a student, John was deeply involved in residence life. He remembers time spent in shared communal spaces, watching the Leafs in the fourth-floor lounge, playing sports on the Grebel field, and listening to keynote speakers at Community Supper and Chapel. “The daily interactions with such a variety of amazing people, laughing, playing music, debating key social and political issues of our time are what stand out the most,” he said. “Students singing in their rooms. A welcome smile at mealtimes. It is an environment where community is built naturally, blending Grebel social life seamlessly with academic pursuits.”
“The deep networks of friends and the strong sense of community are things that have stayed with me long after graduating,” he added. “Grebel teaches you the value of connection, mutual support and inclusion, which are principles that carry forward into every aspect of life and career.”
Students who live at Grebel are encouraged to take a Grebel course. In his first term, John chose “The Quest for Meaning in the 20th Century,” taught by Dr. Walter Klaassen. After John submitted his first paper, Walter was concerned that John’s sentence structure and grammar were getting in the way of his good ideas and could prevent him from graduating. Walter generously offered to review all of John’s papers, a commitment he kept until John’s graduation. Now an excellent writer, John said, “I owe that to Dr. Klaassen, who gave so much of his time to helping me succeed at university. That honesty and caring made him a foundational figure in my life.” He added, “Receiving that kind of dedicated time and support creates a natural desire to give back, ensuring that Grebel can continue to impact students in that same meaningful way.”
“Generosity is about paying forward the investments that others made in you when you were starting out or in a new space, as the Grebel staff, floor Dons, and professors did for me,” explained John. “It means recognizing that our successes are rarely achieved entirely on our own but are built on the foundations laid by a supportive community.”
The Windows to the Future campaign was launched to fund improvements to the residence air handling systems, washrooms, and plumbing infrastructure. The project later expanded to refresh student lounges, replace internet infrastructure, and upgrade old lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. These upgrades improve the building’s overall functionality and efficiency, support Grebel’s environmental goals, and make the residence more comfortable for students.
“Imagine, in 2026, not having air conditioning or dealing with 30-year-old washrooms, when all the while the residence is the heart of the Grebel experience for so many like me,” John explained, when asked why renewing the residence was important to him. “I hope this support helps ease the challenges of student life and provides a comfortable, well-equipped space where students can focus on what matters—fellowship, music, arts, political debate and academics. Grebel is a kind place that the world needs even more now.”
“By modernizing the residence infrastructure, current and future students have the best possible environment to build their own networks of friends and find their footing in life as I did,” added John.