Library raises $200K, secures grant
KEN GARNER/THE FORUM
The local philanthropic organization Ten Squared Men on a Mission presented a donation of $14,400 to the Maryville Public Library’s 501(C)3 Second Century Library Fund Corporation to help with the restoring or custom-replicating of the 113-year-old windows in the library, which is located at 509 N. Main St. According to library executive director Stephanie Patterson, the donation from Ten Squared Men “pushed us to the finish line” to secure a $50,000 grant from Bolger Foundation. Each quarter the members of Ten Squared Men gather to select a local nonprofit to provide funds from individual group members to help the chosen organization’s cause. Shown from left are Patterson, library board members Jim Rash, Steve Klotz (also a member of 10 Squared Men), Todd Hayes and Brian Schieber of Ten Squared Men and library board member Andrew DeCurtis.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Maryville Public Library recently announced that it has reached its goal of raising $200,000 to secure a $50,000 Bolger Foundation grant to replace the historic building’s deteriorating 113-year-old windows.
“We want to keep Maryville proud of her downtown library,” Library Executive Director Stephanie Patterson said in a statement. “Clearing this hurdle was an answered prayer through some generous individuals who saw a long-term value in this investment.”
Last week’s Ten Squared Men on a Mission’s quarterly donation of $14,400, helped the library meet its goal along with the donations from a growing group of supporters like Nodaway Valley Bank, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., the city of Maryville, Mosaic Life Care, the Maryville Pride Lions and Edward Jones Investments.
With the funds now in hand, and the accompanying grant through the New Jersey-based Bolger Foundation, the library can now restore or fully replicate the historic windows and decorative moulding on its 1912 building which once housed the Maryville Post Office. Patterson noted that any expenses related to this project above the $250,000 raised, will be covered by library budget funds and any additional local grant dollars available.
The Bolger Grant requirements were made possible through the library’s nonprofit Second Century Fund Corporation, which provides some supplemental funding to the library’s operating budget each year, according to information from Patterson.
Library board president Jim Rash said it is definitely exciting reaching this milestone.
“(The) Maryville Public Library is honored that we were selected as a donation recipient by Ten Squared Men,” he said in an email to The Forum. “After several months of work by the library staff and board of trustees, this generous gift makes the difference in obtaining the grant from the Bolger Foundation. It is wonderful that the library has the support of not only Ten Squared Men but also the citizens of our community, supporting us in the dual challenge of maintaining a historic building from the early 20th century while providing programs and services for our patrons of all ages here in the 21st century.”
Rash is not wrong in the library seeing support from the community. According to information provided by the library, during the past seven months of fundraising, more than 100 households provided donations of all sizes for capital improvements to the building.
The window project will be the biggest capital project that the library will have completed in the last 24 years, since a major renovation and the construction of the east addition in 2000-2001. Patterson hopes the library can open bids for the work this spring or early summer.
