George Family Foundation contributes $50,000 to library campaign
The Prairie du Chien Memorial Library’s capital campaign has taken another step forward toward raising $1.5 million, thanks to a $50,000 contribution from the George Family Foundation. The project, estimated at $3 million, is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2017. Last year, the city announced a $1.5 million capital campaign to match a $1.5 million contribution to the project by the common council.
“Sometimes, you just have to sit back, when you receive news like this, and realize just how blessed the city of Prairie du Chien and the surrounding area is to have such outstanding philanthropic organizations such as the George Family Foundation,” said City Administrator Aaron Kramer. “Their generous donation has moved us that much closer to our ultimate goal, with groundbreaking approximately one year away. We continue to welcome contributions of any amount to turning this dream into brick, mortar, books and more.”
The George Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 by Roy L. and Geraldine E. George. According to its website, the mission of the George Family Foundation is to assist those programs and individuals who have a vision and a plan to better the long-term quality of life. The George Family Foundation has a broad range of philanthropic interests and will provide assistance to a wide variety of worthwhile organizations or individuals for projects that are limited in scope but that are valuable and important to the applicant and endorsed by the GFF Board members. The George Family Foundation limits the geographic scope of its funding to Prairie du Chien and communities within a 25-mile radius of Prairie du Chien, as the founders prefer to benefit the area that has been their home throughout their lives.
“This is just the type of project our parents had in mind when they started our foundation 20 years ago. We are honored to have the opportunity to continue their support of our Prairie du Chien community,” said Cindy George Standorf.
The library expansion and modernization project is aimed at bringing the facility into the 21st century with expanded areas for programming and books, as well as quiet reading areas, access to technology, and separation of staff work areas from public areas. The project will also allow the facility to be used outside normal library hours without library staff needing to be present. Technology upgrades will allow for online meetings and classes in a large conference room and smaller study rooms. The library will also be able to display art and cultural displays that have not been possible before.
To provide additional information about the capital campaign, the library project, and how individuals and businesses may contribute to the fundraising efforts, a website was launched at www.prairieduchien.info/LibraryExpansion.html. For more information, contact the library at 326-6211. Donations are tax deductible.
