Thank you to our donors

As the Foundation planned The Campaign for the Library—Branching Out, we made connections between what it takes to sustain a healthy, 21st-century Library and the variety of trees that are found in a naturally diverse, sustainable Piedmont forest.

Gifts and Pledges to The Campaign for the Library—Branching Out through May 1, 2007:

Black Walnut
$250,000 +

GlaxoSmithKline Community Partnerships
National Endowment for the Humanities

In June 2005, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded the Durham Library Foundation a $500,000 Challenge Grant to establish an endowment and provide immediate funding for high quality humanities programming and collection development at the Durham County Library. The Foundation has raised $1.325 million of the $1.5 million it is required to raise by Jan. 31, 2008, to meet the challenge.

After the news conference announcing the GlaxoSmithKline Community Partnerships grant of $800,000 awarded to the Durham Library Foundation, Ellen Reckhow, chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners, jokingly presented eight 100 Grand candy bars to Bill Shore, director, U.S. Community Partnerships, for GSK. Willis Whichard, president of the Durham Library Foundation, holds up one of the symbolic treats.

The grant establishes The GlaxoSmithKline Literacy Endowment and will help to leverage the NEH Challenge Grant. Yield from the endowment will support the Library’s Summer Reading Club and the Library Youth Partnership program.

Native Cherry
$100,000 – $249,999

C.M. Herndon Foundation
Friends of the Durham Library Inc.

In 2005, C.M. Herndon Foundation trustees Gus Godwin, left, and Bob Bailey and former Chair of the Library’s Board of Trustees Sally Spears took a hard hat tour of the East Regional Library. Thanks to a generous gift from the C.M. Herndon Foundation, the Library will be applying for a naming opportunity at the South Regional Library: The Mary D. Herndon Children’s Program Room. (Because East is a prototype for the all the Regional Libraries, the tour provided a glimpse into what the gift will make possible at the South Regional Library.)

Friends of the Durham Library Inc. provided a lead gift for The Campaign, establishing The Friends of the Durham Library Endowment for the Children’s Collection. In addition, the Friends organization is matching all new gifts to The Campaign through June 30, 2007, up to $25,000. The Friends’ challenge is for technology improvements.

Flowering Dogwood
$50,000 – $99,999

Paul and Bessie Carrington
Fox Family Foundation
SunTrust
Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Timmins

Paul and Bessie Carrington made an early contribution to The Campaign for the Library, earmarked for technology. Bessie served on the Library’s Board of Trustees for nine years, helping to start the Durham Library Foundation.

Dean Hamric, second from right, Market President for SunTrust, presents $50,000 to the Durham Library Foundation. Former Library Director Philip Cherry III accepted the ceremonial check on behalf of the Foundation. Also pictured are County Manager Mike Ruffin, left, and Deputy County Manager Wendell Davis, right.

Bob and Ann Timmins’ donation established the Dr. Robert and Ann Timmins Endowment for Summer Reading. For many years, the Timmins had supported the Summer Reading Program; now their endowment will provide stable funding for the program in perpetuity.

Yellow Poplar (Tulip Tree)
$25,000 – $49,999

Biogen Idec Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Pete DuBose Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. W.K. Joklik
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Keller

Dr. and Mrs. W.K. Joklik, pictured with their granddaughter Larissa, directed their donation toward the Capital Improvement Fund early in The Campaign. The Library will use the funds for immediate improvements to the Main Library, while planning for the future renovation and expansion is underway. The Library will apply for a naming opportunity in their honor after the “new” Main Library is complete.