Huron County Community Foundation 2023 Annual Report

DES IGNATED FUND SPOTL IGHT Turning the Page for theWakemanCommunity Library The Wakeman Community Library, now part of the Huron County Community Library System, greatly benefited from the hard work and dedication of a volunteer group known as the Wakeman Friends of the Library. For decades, the Friends worked tirelessly to support and enhance local library efforts, fostering a love for literature and learning in various ways. Mary Jo Ockenga, a long-time Friends member who held several offices on the group’s board of trustees, including president, has seenmany changes at the library over the years. “Libraries have always served a critical purpose, but they’ve really grown into an invaluable community resource.” Mary Jo pointed out how citizens can come to the library for help filling out tax or unemployment forms and how, during the pandemic, the libraryWiFi was available to students who needed access to complete their online homework. “Now the library offers exercise classes for seniors, cooking classes, and financial literacy classes,” she says. “It’s amazing what you can find at the library these days!” As the library evolved, membership in theWakeman Friends of the Library dwindled. The remaining volunteers were still passionate about helping the library, so they began looking for a longer-term solution that would allow them to continue making a difference with far less manpower. Mary Jo understood how endowment funds work, thanks to her involvement with the Western Reserve Endowment Fund. She researched local options and pitched the idea of a Designated Endowment Fund to her board. Approximately one year later, the Wakeman Friends of the Library Fund was established with Huron County Community Foundation, restricted for educational programs and materials for adults or children. The Foundation granted the first distribution this year to fund the library’s upcoming summer reading program. While theWakeman Friends of the Library has since dissolved, Mary Jo reflects fondly on everything they accomplished together. “Our intent was always to further the mission of the library. By establishing this fund, we’re making sure that the money donated by the Elmes sisters and other community members continues to benefit theWakeman Library for generations to come.” Although theWakemanFriends of the Librarydidn’t become a 501(c)(3) until 1976, a volunteer groupofwomendatingback to 1948devotedcountless hours buildingandmanaginga library collectionfirst housedat Town Hallandlaterinabuildingprovid- edbyMrs. Calvert C. Canfield, Sr. inmemoryof her husband. The Friends helped redecorate and furnishanaddition to that library in 1977 andacceptedabequest in 1982 fromthe estateof two local teachers, Grace andEthel Elmes, which led to thepurchaseof additional property anda second addition in 1997. Generous com- munitydonations to the Friends allowed for anewcommunity room, children’s area, librarian’s office, workroom, restrooms, lobby, vestibule, andpatio. THINK