MOUNT VERNON LIBRARY FOUNDATION

2023 WAS A YEAR OF PLANNING AND FUNDRAISING. THE CITY HIRED A PROFESSIONAL FUND RAISER THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR WHO HELPED US ORGANIZE AND CARRY OUT FUND RAISING PROJECTS. SHE ORGANIZED A CAPITOL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE TO HELP ASK FOR FUNDS. WE FOUND DONORS WHO WOULD MATCH LIBRARY GIVING DAY CAMPAIGNS WHICH GARNERED ABOUT $24,000 IN THE SPRING AND $16,000 AT THE END OF THE YEAR. FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS HELPED WRITE AND EDIT GRANTS SEVERAL OF WHICH WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE PUBLISHED NEW BROCHURES TO SHOW OFF PLANS FOR THE NEW BUILDING TO ENCOURAGE EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE PROJECT. TO ESTABLISH GOOD WILL IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HELPED SUPPORT A DONOR WALL PROJECT GIVING MANY INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESS, AND ORGANIZATIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THEIR NAMES TO THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND PROJECT. A CAMPAIGN TO HONOR A BELOVED FORMER MAYOR BROUGHT IN OVER $25,000. WE STARTED TO MAKE PLANS FOR AN AUTHOR EVENT TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR. THE LOCAL MEDICAL COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO A SUMMER AFTERNOON EVENT WHICH RAISED $33,000. OUR ANNUAL MEETING, WHICH WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FEATURED A PROGRAM ABOUT THE MOUNT VERNON LIBRARY COMMONS PROJECT. IT OPENED OUR COMMUNITYS EYES TO THE EMORMITY OF THE UNDERTAKING. THE MOUNT VERNON LIBRARY FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO SUPPORT LIBRARY STAFF TO CREATE PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES THAT LAY OUTSIDE THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET. THEY CAME UP WITH A FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, DIA, IN A LOCAL PARK AND A SPANISH LANGUAGE BOOK CLUB TO WHICH WE GAVE MONEY. WE WERE GENEROUS WITH MONEY FOR BOOK GIVEAWAYS AND PRIZES FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS DURING THE YEAR. KIDS RECEIVED FREE BOOKS AT DIA AND THE SUMMER READING PROGRAMS. WE SUBSIDIZED MANY PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES THAT FEATURED GUEST SPEAKERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY FROM FARTHER AWAY.