From the Harford County Public Library:
More than 700 attendees looked on as Harford County Public Library CEO Mary Hastler announced a $100,000 pledge for Schooner Cove from APG Federal Credit Union. The announcement was made at “The Grand Tour: An Evening in the Stacks,” the annual library gala held the evening of November 1 at the Abingdon Library.
Schooner Cove, the children’s department in the new Havre de Grace Library, will provide innovative and interactive experiences and pretend play for children from birth to 5 years of age.
“Schooner Cove will offer the children of Havre de Grace and the region a dynamic children’s library unparalleled in the state. We are honored by APG Federal Credit Union’s significant support for this project,” Hastler said. “APG Federal Credit Union is a tremendous company with a strong focus on community involvement and early education. We are thrilled to expand our relationship with this longstanding partner.”
Don W. Lewis, president/CEO of APG Federal Credit Union, said, “At APGFCU, our mission is to build the financial health of our community. We do so by providing financial education for our neighbors of all ages, and we view our partnership with the Harford County Public Library as a great opportunity to fulfill our mission. On behalf of our board of directors, employees and members, we are honored to pledge our support of Schooner Cove in the new Havre de Grace Library. We are local people helping local people.”
Schooner Cove will be located on the second floor, where the library’s main collection will be housed. It will include six distinct areas: a shipping yard, schooner, story area, little lagoon, ranger station and entrance. As the title sponsor, APG Federal Credit Union will receive exclusive naming rights to Schooner Cove for 25 years.
Proceeds from the November 1 gala will also be used to support the Havre de Grace Library renovation and expansion project. Combined sponsorships, ticket sales, raffle sales, contributions and live and silent auction bids raised $101,000, net, for the project.
Notably, the library raised $52,600 with its live auction which was conducted by auctioneers Derek Hopkins and Robert Ryan. WJZ-TV personality Kristy Breslin served as master of ceremonies for the event.
After a lively exchange, Cindy Height of Port Deposit claimed the library’s BackYard Crashers package, a custom yard makeover valued at more than $60,000. The winning bid was $40,000. Picture Perfect Patios, Nature Unlimited, EP Henry, Maryland Paving, Lawnscape, GW Stephens, Town Security Group/Audio Extreme, Maryland Mechanical Systems, INC and Quality One, Inc., combined to create this year’s package, which included a 1,000-square-foot patio, sitting wall, landscaping, lighting, irrigation and an outside speaker system. Design of the patio will start this week with anticipated completion before Thanksgiving.
BackYard Crashers is being filmed for a segment that will air on Harford Cable Network and can be followed by fans on Facebook at HCPL’s Foundation page.
In addition, Hard Rock Hotels of Mexico and the Dominican Republic, Partners in Travel, Kingdom Magic Vacations, Spa on the Boulevard, Maryland Golf and Country Clubs, Laurrapin, Pairings Bistro, Keene Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Verdant Valley Farm, Manor Tavern, Al and Christine Williamson, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, ARC, Habitat for Humanity, Center for the Arts, Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, Extraordinare Limousine, SARC and Southern Rotary provided diverse offerings for guests to bid on during the live auction.
At the close of the auction, the winning raffle ticket was drawn for diamond earrings donated by Saxon’s Diamond Centers.
Gala guests enjoyed small plates and libations by Laurrapin Grille, sushi by Wegmans, bourbon and wine selections from Jim’s BottleWorks, craft brews from DuClaw Brewing Company, coffee from Coffee Coffee and an array of decadent deserts from Wegmans, Flavor Cupcakery, Jarrettsville Creamery and Deli and Les Petits Bisous.
The Edwardian-era “grand tour” ports of call décor was provided by Richardson’s Flowers & Gifts, Fandango, Select, Grand Events and Events By I Did It Myself. Entertainment included Mood Swings, caricature artist Rick Wright, rose sales by Flowers by Bauers and a mock casino sponsored by Hollywood Casinos.
Sponsors for this year’s gala were: Presenting Sponsors: APG Federal Credit Union, Nature Unlimited, Picture Perfect Patios, Richardson’s Flowers & Gifts and Saxon’s Diamond Centers; Headlining Sponsors: Comcast, EP Henry, GW Stephens, Harford’s Heart, Hart to Heart Transportation, I95 Business, Keene Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, The Kelly Group, Lawnscape, Inc., M&T Bank, The Aegis, The Daily Record, Web IXI, Wegmans and 103.7 WXCY; Premier Sponsors: The Town Group/Audio Extreme, Diane Smith and Family, Events by I Did it Myself, Fandango Productions, Freedom Federal Credit Union, Hard Rock Hotels of Mexico and the Dominican Republic, Harford Mall, Harford Mutual Insurance Company, Harford Style Magazine, Huether-McClelland Foundation, Jim’s BottleWorks, Joseph’s Department Store, Lewis Contractors, Manns Woodward Studios, Inc., Maryland Mechanical Systems, Inc., McCool Insurance/Allstate, MNS Group, Partners In Travel, PNC Bank, Quality One, Inc, Select Event Rentals and Spa on the Boulevard; Supporting Sponsors: Bel Air Friends of HCPL, Bonefish Grill, Coffee Coffee, Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company, Grand Rental Events, Greater Harford Committee, Harford Bank, Mary & Mark Hastler, Kleins/Shop Rite, Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, Maryland Paving Inc./ Gray & Sons, McComas Funeral Home, MedStar Health, Inc., Midwest Tape, Morgan Stanley, NVS Salon & Spa, Pairings Bistro, Point Breeze Credit Union, Progressive Radiology, Signs by Tomorrow – Aberdeen, Martha Hopkins, Skylight Creative Ideas, Inc., Spencer Silver Mansion, Waste Industries, Weyrich Cronin & Sorra Chartered, Al & Christine Williamson and Flowers by Bauers; Contributing Sponsors: Advanced Eyecare, Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, Ned Cockey, Ellin & Tucker, Flavor Cupcakery, The Greene Turtle, Group Benefit Strategies, LLC, Hampden Moving & Storage, Beth & Matt Hendrix, Rick and Mary Kate Herbig, The Highlands School, Innovative Insurance Solutions, Jones Junction, Kenneally Technology Services, Hollywood Casinos, Main Street Cigars, Extend Barre, MaGerk’s Pub & Grill, Maryland Spine Institute, R.E.H.A.B Furniture and Finds, Rainbow Int’l of Northeastern MD, SunTrust, United Way of Central Maryland, Bob & Kathy Wajer and WSMT Insurance.
Who do these people think they are. That $100,000.00 belongs to the members of the Credit Union and should be paid out in dividends, not give away.
Finally someone else sees the give aways and extravagant spending as wrong. I belong to another credit union, one with a very limited field of membership, that give a bonus to the members every year, just before Christmas. They reward savers with a 10% bonus on interest earned, and a 5% bonus on interest paid on all loans. This other credit union remembers why credit unions exist. APGFCU has forgotten and is now just another bank, with customers not members.
It’s called marketing, and the money is coming out of their administrative operating budget. If that money were redistributed to its members, each one would get about 98 cents. Just because it’s a credit union doesn’t mean it isn’t also still a business, and the goodwill and positive public relations created by this donation is worth it to the business.
You miss the point entirely.
Dear God does my bullshit alarm go off with that. APGFCU has not recognized its true mission in a lot of years. Public relations and marketting and all the rest of the fluff is just that – fluff. I’ll be glad to take the $.98. What you don’t get, dear teacher, is that $100,000 is the member’s money! Wjhile I’m at it, how much gets spent on travel for board member each year?
I was with the credit union when you had to drive onto the base to visit the only branch. It was exclusive since you had to be military, government or family to be a member and they took good care of their members. Now all you need is a pulse. Now they’re just a mediocre bank.
Some people believe organizations have no social responsibility, some do.
I’ve been to a few of these. A lot of stuffed shirts there. Every time i get an invitation i throw it in the garbage where it belongs. Used to bank with apgfcu. No more. I agree that the money belongs to its members. Regardless of which line item it comes from, it still comes from members. The library, HC gov and apgfcu are vrry cozy.