Grants $142,000 to Cedar Falls Public Library 2017 Projects
May 4, 2017
The Cedar Falls Community Foundation has granted $142,000 to the Cedar Falls Public Library for 2017 projects. Grants were made from three funds established with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation for the benefit of the Cedar Falls Public Library.
The Kathryn L. Ray Fund supports programming and collections projects at the Cedar Falls Public Library. Kathryn “Kay” Ray and her husband Paul Ray moved to Cedar Falls from Rochester, Minnesota, where they were married in 1950. Paul Ray established his business on Dunkerton Road in Cedar Falls, “Paul Ray’s Paving Plant”. After her husband’s death in 1978 Kay remained active in Cedar Falls, where she was well known for her large, colorful, broad-brimmed hats and vivacious personality. Thoughtful estate planning allowed Kay to establish two funds, the Kathryn Ray Fund for the benefit of the Cedar Falls Public Library and the Kathryn Ray Fund for the benefit of Cedar Falls Recreation facilities. Since their initial investment with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation both funds have grown considerably and allow the public library and recreation center to provide programming and services for the residents of Cedar Falls beyond what their city budgets would normally allow.
The Robert & Shirley Berg Fund also supports programming and collections at the Cedar Falls Public Library. Robert Berg was a local business owner, active in community affairs including serving on the Board of the Cedar Falls Chamber, Cedar Falls Historical Society, Cedar Falls AMVETS Post #49, Sartori Hospital, and the Main Street and College Hill Merchant Associations. Shirley Berg was active in the Reciprocity Bureau, as an officer of the Cedar Falls Womans Club, and served as president of Chapter KV of PEO Sisterhood and of the Black Hawk County Pharmaceutical Auxiliary. Robert Berg died in 2006 and Shirley in 2007. Through the estate planning process, Robert and Shirley Berg established two funds with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation for the benefit of Cedar Falls organizations, one for the benefit of the Cedar Falls Public Library and one for the benefit of the James & Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts.
The Cedar Falls Public Library Building Endowment, a component fund of the Cedar Falls Community Foundation, was generated from gifts and contributions by individuals, companies and organizations to the Cedar Falls Community Foundation for the support of the Cedar Falls Public Library services within the City of Cedar Falls. Specifically, the Fund is to be used enhance the library’s facility and services.
April 2017 grants from the Kathryn Ray Fund for the benefit of the Cedar Falls Public Library will support LitCon 2017, Children’s Book Festival 2017, and Cedar Valley Youth Reads 2017. The Robert & Shirley Berg Fund for the benefit of the Cedar Falls Public Library will support the 2017 Summer Library Program, MakerSpace Equipment, Book Club Bonanza, Library furniture, and e-materials. Finally, a grant from the Cedar Falls Public Library Building Endowment will support new self-checkout machines.
Cynthia Sweet, Executive Director of the Cedar Falls Community Foundation said, “The Cedar Falls Community Foundation appreciates the opportunity to support the outstanding community engagement opportunities provided by the Cedar Falls Public Library. The Library serves over 250,000 patrons every year, providing opportunities and services made possible by the careful estate planning and vision of donors such as Kay Ray and Robert and Shirley Berg. It is exciting to see their legacy continue in our community making a positive impact on generations of library patrons.”
The Cedar Falls Community Foundation is a nationally accredited community foundation. The Cedar Falls Community Foundation accepts and manages estate gifts and donations to fulfill donor wishes, assisting donors to achieve their charitable legacy. The Cedar Falls Community Foundation’s mission to use the resources entrusted to its stewardship to support projects that enhance the community’s quality of life through cultural, scholarly, recreational, literary and artistic endeavors. For more information about the Cedar Falls Community Foundation, please visit www.cf-communityfoundation.org or contact 319.243.9170 or email: cfcf@cfu.net.
