Legacy lives on

William C. Bowling Memorial Fund supports educational programs

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 1/20/15

The William C. Bowling Sr. Memorial Fund recently distributed assistance to various schools throughout the state to support educational programs.

Bowling was a husband, father, lawyer and active …

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Legacy lives on

William C. Bowling Memorial Fund supports educational programs

Posted

The William C. Bowling Sr. Memorial Fund recently distributed assistance to various schools throughout the state to support educational programs.

Bowling was a husband, father, lawyer and active member of the community, and a partner at the Providence-based firm David, Kilmarx, Swan & Bowling.

In addition to being highly involved in his three sons’ education, Bowling also sat on the Warwick School Committee for four years from 1992 until 1996.

Unfortunately, just before Christmas in 2001, he passed away as a result of multiple myeloma.

Not even a year after his passing, Kathleen Cote Bowling began the memorial fund in her husband’s name to benefit Rhode Island students, a cause he held dear.

“William was very involved with the schools while he was with us, and our own kids went through the schools,” she said. “Schools were the most logical place to donate to. We are just continuing what he would do anyway, were he still with us. Our No. 1 focus is anything to improve, better or enhance kids’ educational experience.”

Since William’s passing, nearly $110,000 has been donated to after school programs and educational resources.

“The Bill Bowling Memorial Fund is a tangible way for us to keep the work and legacy of Bill Bowling alive,” Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian said. “Through his years as a member of the Warwick School Committee, he strove to make the district a better place for kids, teachers, parents and the community. It is only fitting that this many years later we still honor his memory by funding educational programs, theatre and arts programs, libraries, and bereavement programs. All of this is in keeping with Bill’s mission and his life’s work. But it is also a way for this community to reach out to Kathie, Will, Nate and Clarke and let them know on a regular basis of the impact that their husband and father has on so many people.”

Oakland Beach Elementary School is one of the recipients of the Bowling Memorial Fund, receiving $1,000.

“We are honored to have received the donation. In an era of budget constraints it’s amazing the Bowling Fund can be so charitable,” said Catherine Davis Hayes, art teacher at Oakland Beach. “There is no way to begin to thank the Bowlings.”

This year, the funding will help create stations around Oakland Beach’s new track. With the donations, students will be collaborating on not only the design of these stations, but also their implementation throughout the school year.

“We plan on creating an outdoor classroom. Some of it will be fitness stations, sculptural stations and so on,” Davis Hayes said. “Really we want the students to have a chance to explore outdoor elements.”

Other recipients include Resilient Kids, a yoga and mindfulness program that helps calm students; a bereavement program at La Salle Academy for those who have lost a loved one; and various other organizations and public schools.

“We try and make our donations toward those educational programs that, because of budget cuts to the schools, may not exist otherwise,” Kathleen said.

As well as helping the community, the Bowling Memorial Fund has been a source of healing for the family.

“The memorial fund is a way for my family and I to give back to the community my husband was so fond of,” Kathleen said. “When we write checks, it is a great comfort knowing that the money will go to putting smiles on kids’ faces. We are taking something negative and trying to make it positive. I know for myself this has been helpful on a personal level.”

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