Wilton Library’s new ’25 for 25' Challenge Grant Campaign

Wilton Library launches new campaign

Whether it’s 40 fresh-faced kids having their imaginations come alive in a magical Hogwarts world, a maker learning embroidery to transform an apron into a gift for someone special, a music-lover spending a few hours embracing a world class concert, or a senior relaxing for a few moments out of the blistering heat, Wilton Library touches so many lives every day.

And now the library needs the community’s help.

In this year’s budgeting process, the library was challenged by the Town of Wilton to raise $25,000 in additional funding which would be matched by the Town, thereby reaching Wilton Library’s original budget request. The shortfall of $50,000 in the library’s Fiscal 2018-2019 budget is crucial to the library’s operations and to providing what the community expects.

To raise the needed dollars, the library is launching its ‘25 for 25’ Challenge Grant Campaign, asking people to donate $25, from September 25 through October 25, 2018, to reach its goal so that the Town can release the additional funding.

According to Elaine Tai-Lauria, Wilton Library’s executive director, “The timing of this campaign is crucial since the library needs to know its total funding for the year. For this particular initiative, donations have to be collected early in the library’s fiscal year 2018-2019 so that the $25,000 matching grant will be provided by the Town long before June, 2019. In this way, the library can plan within its budget and continue operating efficiently as a fully functioning institution.”

Wilton Library’s Board of Trustees president Michele Klink noted, “When we stop and think what the library means to all of us – a place to study, gather, innovate, hold meetings, learn, appreciate art– this is what we want to preserve. Our jewel of the community.”

“The ‘25 for 25’ Challenge Grant Campaign definitely has a timeframe and the $25 donation is a great starting point –we would be happy to receive even more if generous donors felt that they could,” Tai-Lauria acknowledged with a smile. “The important thing is that we get as many people as we can invested in this campaign so that we can receive the monies being held as soon as possible.”

Wilton Library Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that gets its funding in part from the Town of Wilton for operations of the building. Twenty-five percent of its remaining budget is gained through fundraising efforts which go directly to the materials that are on the shelves, programs such as Human Library, author talks, literary lectures and seminars, documentary films, concerts, technology, services and so much more.

Robin Axness, the library’s development director added, “Because of the Town’s challenging budget year, we’re launching our ‘25 for 25’ Campaign which is a critical piece in securing our operational funds. If 1,000 people donate $25 each, we would be at our goal for this initiative.”

Those wishing to donate to the ‘25 for 25’ Campaign may visit www.wiltonlibrary.org and click on the “Donate Now” link or stop by the circulation desk beginning September 25.

For more information, please contact Elaine Tai-Lauria at etailauria@wiltonlibrary.org or Robin Axness, development director, raxness@wiltonlibrary.org. Or, call: 203-762-6323.

*Pictured: Aiden Kong, Marty Katz and Jaxson Katz delight in some circuitry fun at last year’s Innovation Day, just one of the many ways people enjoy the library. 

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Submitted by Wilton, CT

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