The Library Foundation Establishes New Trust Funds

YOUNGSTOWN (October 1 1 , 2007) – The Library's Board of Trustees established two new trust funds at their September meeting in honor of patrons who left bequests to The Library Foundation.

“The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is most grateful for the many gifts it has received over the years for programming, capital campaigns and collections,” said Carlton A. Sears, Library Director. “The community's generosity was exemplified at our recent Trustee meeting, when the Board accepted three bequests and established two new trusts as part of The Library Foundation.”

The Library recently received the following bequests. Ruth L. McKay granted a portion of her estate for use at the Poland branch. Amelia Gail Sarbu left her entire estate to The Library without restriction. Helen VanGorder entrusted a portion of her estate for the Library's “Special Delivery” library-by-mail program (formerly Special Outgoing Services) for qualifying Mahoning County residents who cannot come to a library. Both Helen and her husband, W. Sturgeon, were longtime Library patrons who later became regular users of the library-by-mail service.

The bequests resulted in the establishment of two trusts, the Amelia Gail Sarbu Trust and the W. Sturgeon VanGorder and Elizabeth Slotta Trust.

“These type of bequests, especially their size, have happened rarely in the Library's history,” said Library Director Carlton Sears. “And today, they constitute a facet of the institution's overall finances that is extremely significant. Heightening public awareness on the significance of planned giving is important now and in the future. Planned giving is without a doubt the single most significant mechanism we have to build The Library Foundation.”

Gifts to the Library can be made by contacting Deborah Liptak, Development Director, at
330-744-8636, ext. 118.