Twenty-four hour fundraiser April 25 allows patrons to donate as little as $10
HENDERSON, Nev. – On Thursday, April 25, Nevadans and Nevada supporters alike will have the opportunity to support their favorite Nevada-based charities without leaving the comfort of their couch, their office chair or wherever their smartphone takes them.
The Henderson Libraries Foundation, which raises funds for Henderson Libraries, will participate in Nevada’s Big Give, giving everyone a chance to support the libraries’ four remaining branches. Donations will be accepted online at http://www.razoo.com/story/Henderson-Libraries-Foundation from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Donations to the Henderson Libraries Foundation received through Nevada’s Big Give will be used to provide funding for library collections, outreach services, innovative technology such as the computer labs at each library branch and online resources, capital projects and scholarships for qualified individuals in Southern Nevada seeking a master’s in library information and science.
Participants are encouraged to give any amount over $10. For example, a $15 donation covers the cost of a picture book, $25 covers the cost of a new bestselling novel, $50 is the cost to provide a basic computer class to beginning computer users and a $100 donation is the equivalent of the cost of providing a pre-school program that includes early literacy activities to engage children in reading and learning.
Established in 2003, NevadaGIVES is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to increase awareness of philanthropy so more people give back in a way that is meaningful to them. The goal is to build a vibrant, effective and growing philanthropic community that improves the quality of life for all Nevadans, as well as to support volunteerism by serving as an informational resource.
After more than $400,000 was raised in the first year of the event, the goal this year is to raise double that in one 24-hour period for nonprofits across the state by encouraging Nevadans to give where they live.
Every donation – whether it’s $10 or $1,000 – will count. The top nonprofit organizations that receive the greatest number of unique donors will receive bonus cash prizes. The foundation hopes to raise money to ease the pain of the Henderson Libraries’ shrinking budget and raise awareness about the value and needs of the libraries. Businesses or individuals interested in giving a matching gift leading it to the April 25 event can contact Tom Fay at 702-492-6595 or tffay@hdpl.org.
The Henderson Libraries is funded largely through property taxes, which are based on a property’s assessed value. When property values dropped, so did the libraries’ budget. Henderson Libraries lost more than $2.5 million in revenue over the last few years, leaving a large gap in the budget used to purchase materials such as books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, DVDs and e-books borrowed daily by patrons. Henderson Libraries cut operating hours and personnel to keep branch doors open and closed the Malcolm and Galleria libraries late last year after a tax initiative meant to help offset some of the cuts failed in November.
Fundraisers by the Henderson Libraries Foundation help supplement the losses. Although the foundation can’t possibly make up for everything, every bit helps, said Tom Fay, Henderson Libraries’ executive director.
“By providing free access to computers, information, education and activities for the whole family, libraries are a critical part of Southern Nevada’s struggle to recover from the recession,” Fay added. “With the failing of the tax initiative in November, we are more dependent than ever on individual donations to help keep our doors open and our programs and services at our four remaining libraries running.”
Established in 1943 as a single library in Downtown Henderson, Henderson Libraries operates four 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.
For more information about NevadaGIVES, visit www.nevadagives.org.