St. Ignace Library Raises $8,000 Toward $10,000 Goal

The St. Ignace Public Library has raised $8,000 toward its goal of $10,000 to activate a new library endowment fund.

The St. Ignace Public Library, Friends of the Library, and the St. Ignace Community Foundation have been working together to establish the fund, which will eventually be used to expand library programs, maintain Community Room furnishings, and add to technology offered at the library.

Since the fundraising effort was launched in February, every $1 donation to the library, up to $1,000, actually put $3 into the library's piggybank, thanks to matching contributions from Friends of the Library and an Ernie Harwell Libraries Endowment Fund grant.

The library board had to raise $5,000 locally to launch its endowment fund, and is still seeking donations toward the $10,000 needed to activate the fund.

An endowment is an invested fund that uses only the income from the investment to pay for projects. The original donations remain intact, continuing to earn investment dollars for future projects.

Donations to the endowment are tax deductible.

Donations can be made at the library, or to any Friends of the Library member. Checks can be made payable to St. Ignace Area Community Foundation, SIPL Endowment Fund, and sent to P.O. Box 151, St. Ignace Michigan 49781.

The endowment will be guided by the library's seven-member board of directors. Currently serving are Linda Monville, Paul Grondin, Renee Vonderwerth, Jean Nitz, Hart Plumstead, Margaret Peacock, and Mary Maurer.