Greenfield public library foundation
New Library Building Project Campaign Honorary Chairs, Joe & Marie Bete
NEW LIBRARY BUILDING CAMPAIGN: COMMUNITY ANSWERS THE CALL
The Greenfield Public Library Foundation is pleased to announce we have reached our fundraising goal of $2 million in support of building the new public library.
“It’s gratifying to reach such an ambitious goal,” said Jeanne Canteen, President of the Foundation’s board of directors and Campaign Chair. “The dedication and passion of the library supporters have been driving forces in raising these funds to support Greenfield’s first public library building.” A successful campaign of this magnitude is new to the Greenfield community. The Foundation’s cultivation of library supporters and philanthropic community leaders was essential to this success.
For the first time, Greenfield will have a library building built for the public, accessible to all, with an ample children’s room, a dedicated teen space, technology, multiple quiet study areas, and spaces for meetings. Construction is underway on the Main Street lot between the U.S. Post Office and the current library, the Leavitt-Hovey House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Development Committee leader David Pond credits the campaign's successful culmination to years of hard work by the Foundation team, and “fortunate timing of events this summer and fall – groundbreaking, in-person social events, exposure from Giving Tuesday, a postcard mailing, extensive individual conversations, and the start of the construction – all coming together.”
The Foundation has received gifts, pledges, and bequests from over 650 community members, from 50-cents to $500,000. “It’s easy to see that wide-ranging support from a community this size indicates need and enthusiasm for this project,” said Canteen.
Lifelong members of the Greenfield community and Honorary Chairs of the Foundation’s building campaign, Joe and Marie Bete, share, “It has been a joy to be part of this library project. Today we give thanks to so many who have joined in supporting Greenfield’s new public library. Our community will benefit for years to come. With great anticipation we all can now watch as this modern library rises.”
“This has absolutely been a community-based project, from volunteers to donors,” said Doris Cowdrey, Chair of the Greenfield Public Library Board of Trustees. “We’re proud that this project connected so many people in support of the library. It demonstrates our region’s love of libraries and recognition of their importance in community life.”
“We are thankful to be able to be in a position where we can give our time and resources to help make this vision happen. This project, all politics aside, ultimately provides access to knowledge and technology for our entire community,” said Jenn and Merrill Gagne. “We can’t wait to bring our children into the new Greenfield library.”
Library Director, Ellen Boyer, noted the library staff “appreciates all of the support for the new library building and can’t wait to show it off!”
The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to all who joined us in bringing this exciting project to life!
The Greenfield Public Library Foundation is pleased to announce we have reached our fundraising goal of $2 million in support of building the new public library.
“It’s gratifying to reach such an ambitious goal,” said Jeanne Canteen, President of the Foundation’s board of directors and Campaign Chair. “The dedication and passion of the library supporters have been driving forces in raising these funds to support Greenfield’s first public library building.” A successful campaign of this magnitude is new to the Greenfield community. The Foundation’s cultivation of library supporters and philanthropic community leaders was essential to this success.
For the first time, Greenfield will have a library building built for the public, accessible to all, with an ample children’s room, a dedicated teen space, technology, multiple quiet study areas, and spaces for meetings. Construction is underway on the Main Street lot between the U.S. Post Office and the current library, the Leavitt-Hovey House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Development Committee leader David Pond credits the campaign's successful culmination to years of hard work by the Foundation team, and “fortunate timing of events this summer and fall – groundbreaking, in-person social events, exposure from Giving Tuesday, a postcard mailing, extensive individual conversations, and the start of the construction – all coming together.”
The Foundation has received gifts, pledges, and bequests from over 650 community members, from 50-cents to $500,000. “It’s easy to see that wide-ranging support from a community this size indicates need and enthusiasm for this project,” said Canteen.
Lifelong members of the Greenfield community and Honorary Chairs of the Foundation’s building campaign, Joe and Marie Bete, share, “It has been a joy to be part of this library project. Today we give thanks to so many who have joined in supporting Greenfield’s new public library. Our community will benefit for years to come. With great anticipation we all can now watch as this modern library rises.”
“This has absolutely been a community-based project, from volunteers to donors,” said Doris Cowdrey, Chair of the Greenfield Public Library Board of Trustees. “We’re proud that this project connected so many people in support of the library. It demonstrates our region’s love of libraries and recognition of their importance in community life.”
“We are thankful to be able to be in a position where we can give our time and resources to help make this vision happen. This project, all politics aside, ultimately provides access to knowledge and technology for our entire community,” said Jenn and Merrill Gagne. “We can’t wait to bring our children into the new Greenfield library.”
Library Director, Ellen Boyer, noted the library staff “appreciates all of the support for the new library building and can’t wait to show it off!”
The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to all who joined us in bringing this exciting project to life!
NEXT STEPS
After 5-years of fundraising, the Foundation has come to the end of our community campaign to raise $2-million to offset the cost of the new library building for the taxpayers of Greenfield. We are excited to start planning our next steps as an orgnaization.
Underway
After 5-years of fundraising, the Foundation has come to the end of our community campaign to raise $2-million to offset the cost of the new library building for the taxpayers of Greenfield. We are excited to start planning our next steps as an orgnaization.
Underway
- Construction of the NEW library Building
- New Library Opening
DONOR HIGHLIGHT: What inspires someone to support the new Greenfield Public Library building?
Local artist Hale Johnson and his wife Lorraine
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A Gift of Love
Throughout their 55-year marriage, Lorraine Johnson was the supporting force behind the artistic career of her husband, Hale Johnson, his bedrock constant. The two were inseparable. Since her passing in 2016, Hale has sought a way to acknowledge Lorraine's contribution to his career as well as her volunteer work as a member of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library. He has chosen to honor her memory by confirming a bequest to the Greenfield Public Library Foundation supporting the construction of the new library. When Hale & Lorraine settled in Colrain in the mid 60’s, Lorraine found the setting of peace and quiet that enhanced her loving and creative spirit for the rest of her life. As an avid reader, she was led to explore many interests that sprang from her wide-ranging books. The love of books continued to speak to her and in the early 2000’s she joined Friends of the Greenfield Public Library. As a member of the Friends, Lorraine worked with others in the group to elevate the many fund-raising events enabling the expansion of many library programs that proved beneficial to library patrons of all ages. From toddlers to senior citizens, library users benefitted from Lorraine Johnson’s effective efforts at the Greenfield Public Library. |
“What was distinctive about Lorraine was that in her own quiet way, with humor and grace, she engaged others in the mission of the Friends. She never wanted to be the center of attention; she gladly gave credit to others. But her own joy in books and the people who loved them too created a fresh spirit at the library and paid many unseen dividends,” writes Karen Larabee, President of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library.
A beautiful, quiet reading area in the new library will be named in honor of Lorraine for her legacy of thoughtfulness and caring.
A beautiful, quiet reading area in the new library will be named in honor of Lorraine for her legacy of thoughtfulness and caring.
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Raising Kids to Value Books and Knowledge
“When we moved to Greenfield in 2008, one of the first things we did was to get a library card. When our kids were younger, we used to walk into town regularly, and the library was always a favorite stop. We loved being able to browse through books, sit and read together in a sunny spot, and come home with a backpack full of treasures that inspired us to read for hours more. Good memories of family trips to the library help solidify a love for books and knowledge that we believe will be invaluable as our kids grow up." "We support building a new library because we believe that a library can and should be a vital and vibrant part of a community. A modern facility with more space, more books, more activities for kids, teens, and adults could attract people to our city while providing a beautiful space and resource for all of our residents. Investing in our community in this way shows that we value knowledge, history, and culture and also that we are forward thinking, and care about our city and its residents. We can’t wait to walk in the door of the new building!” |
The Michael-Brown family enjoying some outdoor time together
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Pete Brown is a tech director and volunteers as the Chair of the Greenfield Democrats and as a School Council member at Discovery School at Four Corners. Andrea Michael is a Software Product Manager in EdTech and serves as the PTO President at Discovery School at Four Corners and Admin/Moderator of Greenfield MA Moms Facebook group.
