Private donations roll in for Largo's new library, exceeding the goal supporters had set.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published September 24, 2003
LARGO - It was a warm, sticky afternoon of jubilation for the people who have pounded the pavement for private donations for the city's new $21-million library.
The Greater Largo Library Foundation wanted to reach half of its $1.9-million goal of private pledges by Monday afternoon's groundbreaking ceremony.
The fundraisers did better than that, pulling in more than $1.2 million - almost $260,000 more than their target.
Commissioner Pat Gerard said she wasn't surprised.
"People thought I was crazy," Gerard said. "But I said this from the beginning: This community will support this library."
More than 300 people flooded the grounds for the event. A handful of book lovers with no ties to the new library stopped by, but most of the crowd was made up of city leaders and staffers, benefactors and library employees.
The event drew officials from throughout the county and the state, including Belleair Bluffs Mayor Chris Arbutine and Kenneth City Mayor William Smith, Pinellas County Commission Chairwoman Karen Seel and State Rep. Leslie Waters, R-Seminole.
Before the ceremony, guests perused the library plans and color scheme, munched on oatmeal, sugar and chocolate chip cookies and sipped punch and bottled water.
In the background, a crane was perched over a pit the size of a swimming pool and more than 20 shovels with gold spray-painted blades awaited the hands of city leaders and library supporters.
The library's Jenkins Assembly Room currently carries the family name of the late local banker John Jenkins, who donated almost five acres of land to the city on the grounds that it would only be used for a library.
Guests learned that the Jenkins legacy will live on at the new library. Mr. Jenkins' daughter, Kay Jenkins Davison, has been named honorary chairwoman for the capital campaign. Her family has donated $200,000 and the community wing will be named in memory of her father and mother, Rosalie, said Michele D'Avico, development specialist.
The children's wing will be named after Wilfrid and Lola Faucher, who did not want to divulge their pledge.
There were several other large donors announced at the ceremony, including late Mayor ThomFeaster's brother, George Feaster, and the founder of Pinch-a-Penny pool supply, Fred Thomas.
Keith Bailey, master of ceremonies and capital campaign chairman, said several of the wealthier benefactors have been approached so future donors may be more conservative. But he said he expects a host of donations to flood in because of the groundbreaking.
"This is a reality. Up until yesterday it was just conceptual," Bailey said. "More people will come through because they'll see it's actually going to happen."
