From the Harford County Public Library Foundation:
More than $103,000 was raised at Harford County Public Library Foundation’s 12th annual gala, “An Evening in the Stacks: 70 Years in the Family Business” on Saturday, November 5, at the Abingdon Library.
The funds raised by the gala will be used to support Harford County Public Library’s Rolling Reader, Silver Reader, Little Leapers, Little Leapers 3.5, Summer Reading Challenge, Winter Reading, STREAM (including the “r” for reading and “a” for art) initiatives, author discussions and speaker series, purchase of new materials, nonprofit grant database and other innovative programming initiatives.
The evening’s theme focused on the 70th anniversary of the founding of Harford County Public Library. Honorary chairs of the event were Frank and Rosemary Hajek. More than 700 guests attended the annual gala.
The extensive menu featured hors d’oeuvres and stations by Laurrapin and Wegmans with desserts from Flavor Cupcakery, Jarrettsville Creamery & Deli and Wegman’s. Specialty drinks, microbrews, a bourbon bar and gourmet coffee/tea were provided by Coffee Coffee, Jim’s BottleWorks, Independent Brewing Company and Laurrapin.
Nearly $25,000 was raised at the live auction, which was conducted by Derek Hopkins, Harford County’s Register of Wills, and assisted by master of ceremonies Kristy Breslin from WJZ-TV.
The auction featured a trip to the Adriatic Coast of Italy; a girls day out followed by date night in Washington, D.C.; dinner for 10 catered by Laurrapin; a children’s birthday party in the newly renovated Children’s Department at the Bel Air Library; naming a street in the Town of Bel Air; tickets to Harford County’s top galas and events in 2017; tickets and dinner to the Orioles’ opening day in 2017; and a seven-night stay at Legacy Dunes Resort in Kissimmee Fla.
“What an amazing evening to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Harford County Public Library,” said Mary Hastler, CEO of Harford County Public Library. “The generosity of the Harford County community amazes me every single day. The funds raised by the gala will be used to support many important library initiatives, including the Summer Reading Challenge for children and teens and for STREAM programs like our LEAP Kits which build a love and interest in science and our new musical instrument collection.”
Presenting sponsors were Richardson’s, Saxon’s Diamond Centers, Waste Industries and Wegmans. Headlining sponsors were The Baltimore Sun Media Group, The Daily Record, Events By I Did It Myself, Frank Hajek & Associates, Hart to Heart Transportation, I95 Business, ixi, Keene Dodge, The Kelly Group, Laurrapin, M&T Bank, Revolution Event Design and Production, Peoples Bank and WXCY 103.7 FM. Premier sponsors were Allstate/McCool Insurance, APGFCU, Booz Allen Hamilton, Comcast, Harford Mutual, Huether-McClelland Foundation, Jim’s BottleWorks, Joseph’s, Manns Woodward Studios, NVS Salon Spa, Oak Contracting, LLC, PNC Bank, Select Event Rentals, Spa on the Boulevard and TENAX Technologies. Supporting and Contributing sponsors may be found at eveninginthestacks.org/sponsors.
Harford County Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established to raise funds to augment the financial resources of Harford County Public Library and to promote awareness of its services.
Harford County Public Library operates 11 branches located throughout Harford County. The library serves more than 185,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of more than 3.8 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading in the community. For more information, visit hcplonline.org.
This is great news for a great cause. But given the crummy economy, I’m always surprised that people have so much disposable income to contribute to a charity these days.
Crummy economy? Stock market and business profits are at record highs.
And people are complaining about layoffs and being out of work or chronically un or underemployed.