Library district offers list of ideas to encourage creativity, get people involved
HENDERSON, Nev. – The Henderson Libraries Foundation’s $1 for a Million campaign is a few months old and has already raised more than $40,000, but there is a long road to go before the $1 million goal is reached. In response to this, the Foundation launched a Grand Challenge, which began Oct. 1.
In response to the popular patron question, “How can I help?” the Grand Challenge allows residents who support the libraries to do so using their own talents. Teams of friends, co-workers or family members can create phone trees, creating items to sell and community projects are only a few ideas. Creativity is welcomed and the only limit is the teams’ imaginations. The challenge is an open one with one goal – each team raises at least $1,000 in 30 days.
With local philanthropist Beverly Rogers kicking things off with her $1,000 donation, four groups/individuals have already committed to raising $1,000 within 30 days to benefit Henderson Libraries Foundation. LandWell, a land development company based in Henderson, has also donated $1,000 to show its support for the Foundation’s Grand Challenge program.
“The Grand Challenge helps the Henderson Libraries Foundation reach the goal of the $1 for a Million campaign and improve the quality of service we provide our patrons at all of our locations,” said Tom Fay, executive director of the Henderson Libraries. “We have the best patrons, and they are consistently asking what they can do. The Grand Challenge allows them to do what they can, using what they have. It’s truly a community effort.”
Individuals or teams interested in participating in the Grand Challenge can sign up by filling out the form on the Henderson Libraries Foundation website and dropping it off at any of the six Henderson Library branches.
To inspire more groups and individuals to take part in the Grand Challenge, Henderson Libraries has assembled a list of ideas to get people thinking of how they could put their own skills to use as part of the Grand Challenge.
IDEAS FOR INDIVIDUALS
- BakeSale
- Letter/phone campaign
- In lieu of gift (birthday, anniversary, wedding)
- Sponsorship Challenges such as a weight loss challenge, running/walking challenge or a reading challenge
- Knitting/crochet/craft sale
- Garage sale
- Wine party
- Recycling
IDEAS FOR KIDS
- Lemonade stand
- Scout troop project
- Car wash
- Chores for donations
- Collect change
IDEAS FOR BUSINESSES
- Corporate Challenge
- Host a Dine to Donate day (restaurants)
- Donate 1 percent of each sales transaction for a month
- Dunk tank
- Discount card
- Roast
“We are open to all ideas,” Fay said. “These ideas are simply meant to inspire people and show them that there are many ways in which they, too, can help.”
Staff members from Henderson Libraries even committed to taking part in the challenge. Several staff members from Green Valley Library hosted a bake sale on Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Green Valley Library. They sold homemade pumpkin pasties, chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin breads, banana breads and more and raised $870. The group will work to raise the remainder of the money to reach their goal before the end of October.
The Henderson Library District has lost $2.5 million in revenue, which leaves a large gap in the budget used to purchase books and materials such as books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, DVDs, e-books and more used every day by patrons. The $1 for a Million campaign is meant to supplement that loss by raising $1 million from April 2011 to April 2012.
Established in 1943 as a single library in Downtown Henderson, Henderson Libraries operates six locations throughout Henderson. Henderson Libraries cooperates with other public libraries in Southern Nevada, the Nevada System of Higher Education, the Clark County School District and all other libraries around the state to provide quality service for Nevada’s residents.
For additional information on Henderson Libraries, visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 702-492-6581.