Library foundation confident it can collect building funds

In addition to relying on patrons, the Clearwater Library Foundation is planning a giant garage sale.

By LEON M. TUCKER

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 21, 2000

CLEARWATER -- When Clearwater city commissioners agreed to pay about $15-million of a $20.2-million bill to build a new library, they needed some assurance of where the rest of the money would come from.

To construct the state-of-the-art facility, the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation is required by commissioners to show by next September that $2-million of its $5-million share is secure.

"We're now putting together documentation so we can go out and solicit," said Julie Lewis, executive director of the Library Foundation. "When we do this, we will make appointments over the next two years and go talk to these people."

The foundation, a non-profit entity that is separate from the library, was established 14 years ago to raise money to finance library programs and projects to which tax money does not contribute. And though it has not actively pursued donations for the building fund, the foundation has received about $50,000 in unsolicited gifts during the past three years from people who anticipated the construction of a new facility.

"Most libraries in this day in age cannot exist without private donors," Lewis said. "We come into play to try to bridge that gap between what the city can provide and what is needed for our patrons."

And despite a fundraising market here that has seen plenty of action from other foundations, and the fact that the library foundation has yet to actively solicit for its portion, library fund officials are not worried.

Other organizations in Clearwater conducting major fundraising drives include: a $3-million building project at the Golda Meir/Kent Jewish Center, Ruth Eckerd Hall's plan to spend up to $22-million on major renovations to the existing 17-year-old performing arts center and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium's push to raise $3-million during the next five years for an expansion.

"For every organization, there is a percentage of the population that will support it," said Lex Poppens, director of marketing and communications for Ruth Eckerd Hall. "But cultivating support is probably the most difficult part of of the whole process. It is a process that takes time to build relationships."

According to Lewis, there are enough relationships to go around.

"The thing about Clearwater is it has a history of being a very philanthropic community," she said. "People realize what kinds of opportunities our various organizations provide this community, and they're willing to give."

The Clearwater Library Foundation also is planning to raise money is through a giant garage sale set for the last weekend in October 2001. Organizers are asking for, among other things, donations of household goods, toys, baby items, sporting goods, tools, electronics and books for the garage sale.

"I can see this sale being a draw for people throughout the Tampa Bay area, and I have great confidence that they will reach their goal," said John Szabo, director of the Clearwater Public library system. "I think it's great that they're so excited about the new main library project and that they want to participate in rasing money to help get it built."

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