Greater Bel Air Community Foundation Donates $10,000 to Early Literacy Interactive Space

From the Harford County Public Library:

The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Inc. donated $10,000 on January 25 to Harford County Public Library’s Bel Air Children’s Early Literacy Interactive Space Campaign. The campaign is a joint effort between the Bel Air Friends of the Library and the Harford County Public Library Foundation to create a dedicated area in the Children’s Department of the Bel Air branch that encourages the emergent literacy skills essential for school readiness in children.

“Thank you to the Greater Bel Air Community Foundation for your generous and continued support of the Harford County Public Library and Harford County Public Library Foundation,” said Terry Troy, Harford County Public Library Foundation Board President. “Your donation of $10,000 is greatly appreciated in support of the Bel Air Branch Campaign for the renovation of the children’s department to create an Early Literacy Interactive Space.”

“The Harford County Public Library system is the crown jewel of the county,” stated Bill Cox, President of the Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Inc., during the check presentation. The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in April 1998 by local citizens and business people with the goal of improving the amenities and quality of life offered by the greater Bel Air community to its residents, neighbors and visitors. To fulfill its purpose, the Foundation raises funds and accumulates resources, identifies and furnishes support to community groups and other organizations to improve the quality of life and civic features of the Bel Air community and funds civic improvements which help achieve these goals.

“The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation has made such a difference in the lives of Harford County residents with its support of many worthwhile projects,” said Mary Hastler, Library Director. “We are honored to be the recipient of this very generous donation in support of developing early literacy skills for our youngest library customers.” Funds raised from the Early Literacy Interactive Space Campaign will be used to purchase furniture, materials and décor necessary to transform the space into an invigorating learning environment. The renovation is planned to begin in late 2012 with a completion date of spring 2013. The goal of the campaign is to raise $50,000.

The Harford County Public Library Foundation is a 501© 3 charitable organization established to raise funds to augment the financial resources of Harford County Public Library and to promote awareness of library services.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 210,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of almost 4,700,000. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Inc. donated $10,000 to the Early Literacy Interactive Space Campaign on January 25th. Pictured left to right: Terry Troy, Greater Bel Air Community Foundation member; Mary Hastler, Harford County Public Library Director; Greater Bel Air Community Foundation members Chris Schlehr; Don Young; Arden McClune; Les Grimm; Bill Vanden Eynden; Jim Welch; Bob Kahoe; Terry Hanley and Bill Cox. Not pictured: Foundation members John Horner; Bill Kelly; Kathy McMillin; Joe Pfaff and Pat Pollard.