National Philanthropy Day is Saturday, November 15. Let’s start by defining what
PHILANTHROPY (plural philanthropies) means. According to Merriam-Webster, it is the desire
to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to
good causes. It can also be defined as goodwill to fellow members of the human
race; especially: active effort to promote human welfare or as an act or gift done or made for
humanitarian purposes or an organization distributing or supported by funds set aside for
humanitarian purposes.
National Philanthropy Day® (NPD) is the special day set aside to recognize and pay tribute to
the great contributions that philanthropy and those people active in the philanthropic
community have made to our lives, our communities, and our world.
Since 1961 the Grand Island Public Library Foundation has worked to secure annual funding for
special programs and services the library provides, while at the same time making fiscal
decisions to secure funds for the library’s future needs. Fundraising efforts include: annual mail
campaigns to donors, grants, an annual sponsorship program supported by area businesses, as
well as smaller fundraising initiatives and the ongoing Library Book Sale which is manned by
volunteers.
On this Philanthropy Day, the foundation encourages you to show your support of your library
in the following ways:
- Volunteer at the library. Contact the foundation office to learn more about how to
become a volunteer and about the needs of the library. - Tag the library on your social media posts. If you have received special help from a
librarian or attended a library function, share about your experience. This helps people
see that the library is more than books. Maybe you found a unique book and want to
share about it. Book pictures are always a hit! - Donate books. Your gently used books when donated are processed by librarians to see
if perhaps any should be added to the collection and the rest are then designated for
our daily Book Sale volunteers to sort and prepare to go on the shelves for sale.
Proceeds from the sale help with the library’s special programs and services which
benefit all ages of patrons within Hall County. - Shop at the ongoing Book Sale. You never know what treasured book you may find!
Some are in new or like new condition and make wonderful gifts. If you are like a lot of
us, you have a book(s) in your car, on your bedside table, near your chair, etc. Our
mission is to make sure that book ownership is accessible and affordable for our patrons
and guests. - Become a donor. Every dollar, no matter the size, is important. The dollars add up and
can have a significant impact. In 2024 the library served just under 8,000 people who
attended special programs and activities, all funded by the generosity of foundation
supporters. - Show up to vote. Staying aware of local politics and laws which could affect your library
is vital. It is important to show up to vote on your library’s behalf. - Participate in the library’s social media posts and campaigns. By sharing what library
resources, you have used and appreciate, helps others learn about those services.
Commenting, liking and sharing posts you see helps the library engage more people. - Check the library’s online calendar each month to see and share about the many free
programs and services offered for all ages. The calendar can be found at the bottom of
the home page on the website https://www.gilibrary.org. - Join or host a book club. Consider joining the library’s book clubs or starting one of your
own. You could learn more about your library and make new friends.
For more information on how to get involved, contact the Grand Island Public Library
Foundation at (308) 385-5333 ext. 112.
Reaffirm - Respond - Reimagine - Renovate 