White County’s four local libraries are long-standing pillars in our communities. One of the last free educational resources for individuals and families, libraries today are more than just books. They are resource hubs, community builders, and educational conduits. Libraries are equalizers, bringing access to information to any person seeking knowledge, regardless of their background.
It’s no surprise that the Community Foundation of White County has a history of supporting these precious institutions. Grants have supported their efforts since our early grantmaking days, providing financial assistance to build impact in the community.
Most recently, the Community Foundation of White County has been showering our libraries with some love (grants) during our 25th year.
The D. Preston & Carolyn K. Calvert Youth Community Fund is an endowment held at the Community Foundation that was created when the Calvert Youth Community building was donated to the foundation for its office. Through matching funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc, the new asset was matched to build an endowment that would forever support programs that impact “the recreational and educational opportunities that advance the civic, social, and moral welfare of youth in White County.” Each year, CFWC’s governing council identifies needs and opportunities in the community that align with this mission and makes recommendations for grants from the fund. This year, a $1,965 grant was awarded to each of our county’s libraries for their children’s programming: Monticello Union Township Public Library, Monon Town & Township Public Library, Wolcott Community Public Library, and the Brookston Prairie Township Public Library.
Another fund held at the Community Foundation, the White-Carroll Family YMCA Endowment, is designed for similar efforts in White County. Originally created to support the short-lived YMCA in our community, the funds are now under the direction of the governing council to find opportunities that most closely align with its original purpose. This year’s designation from the fund was granted to each of our libraries.
Our donors, too, are committed to supporting these important institutions. $ 1,000 grants were awarded this fall to each White County library from the Annie Horton Advised Fund. Annie Horton was a vivacious junior at North White High School when she tragically perished in an automobile accident in 2002. In the Monon community, Annie was involved in many clubs, track and cross country, and was known for her creative and musical endeavors. These passions truly demonstrated her thirst for learning. In remembrance, her family advises the direction of the grants from this fund each year, immortalizing Annie’s legacy and her love for learning.
If you haven’t stopped by one of our local libraries recently, do! For our friends in the Wolcott community, the recent building expansion now offers space for community gatherings and trainings. Their children’s reading program reached record numbers this past summer, engaging more and more young folks in the joy of reading. The programming at the Monticello Union Township Library is booming, too: STEM club, story time on the patio, meet the author nights, and more provide some fun and education for almost anyone! For the Brookston community, hop over to Second Street to enjoy their new teen room, join Lego club, or burn some carbs with their senior exercise program on Tuesdays and Fridays. In the north part of our county, Monon Town & Township Public Library has been bringing educational programs to the community such as Train Your Brain or Empower Me to be Clutter Free. Excitingly, they’ve also created a Youth Advisory Group that helps build programming for the library and community with input from 5th graders.
Libraries serve an important role in any community. Whether they’re teaching a senior how to use a computer, providing access to databases for a developing entrepreneur, building spaces for young people to learn and connect with one another, or more simply providing that next great book to the local bookworm—libraries are built to serve everyone. And as a community-serving organization, the Community Foundation of White County is honored to play a small role in supporting our local libraries.
To learn more about how you can support the efforts at the Community Foundation, reach out to Director, Lucy Dold at (574) 583-6911 or log on to www.cfwhitecounty.org.
Yorumlar