Updated from a March 2007 news release

Thanks to a generous gift from Michael and JoAnn Henneman, the Champaign Public Library Foundation met its fundraising goal to help build the new Champaign Public Library.

“We are extremely pleased to announce that the Foundation has secured $3 million in gifts and pledges,” said Barry Brindley, foundation president, when the goal was met in April 2007. “Michael and JoAnn Henneman’s gift enabled us to successfully complete this important fundraising effort for the state-of-the-art public library that our community needs and deserves.”

The campaign got under way with a $1 million challenge gift from an anonymous donor. “That powerful commitment, combined with a gift from Kyle and Phyllis Robeson, enabled us to secure the $3 million needed. We are deeply grateful for their support and vision for the library,” said Marsha Grove, library director.

Kyle and Phyllis Robeson served as honorary campaign chairs. The Robesons pledged $500,000 to the campaign and the meeting room pavilion in the new library is dedicated to the Robeson family.

Other major contributors include Shahid and Ann Khan, the Donald C. Dodds Jr. family, the Marci Dodds-Jon “Cody” Sokolski Family, the Newton H. Dodds family, Main Street Bank and Trust, Busey Bank, and the Friends of the Champaign Public Library.

A number of areas in the new library will be named for donors, including the Ann & Shahid Khan Checkout, the Dodds Family TeenSpace, the Nate & Lillie Story Room, and the Busey Bank Computer Room. The third floor conference room where the library board meets is dedicated to Julia F. Burnham, the wife of businessman A. C. Burnham. Burnham donated money and land in his wife’s memory to build the original library on West Church Street in 1894.

While one man’s generous gift established the Champaign Public Library more than a hundred years ago, many donors were needed to help construct a library for the twenty-first century. Hundreds of community members contributed to the campaign, many of whom have their names permanently inscribed on outdoor patio pavers, book shelves, and a glass donor wall in the new building.

“We had donations ranging from $1 to $1 million, and every one was needed and appreciated,” said Brindley. “Each individual, family, and business that made a gift truly helped to build this new library.”

The Champaign Public Library Foundation will continue to raise money for the library. “Tax support can make a good library, but it takes private support to make a great library and our community should have a great library,” said Brindley. “Gifts are needed to make sure the library will always be able to provide top-notch collections and outstanding programs for our community.”

Donors can still get their name on the donor wall for a gift of $10,000 or can have a shelf permanently dedicated to them for a gift of $5,000. There are areas of the new building which can be named for gifts ranging from $50,000 to $250,000.

For more information, call Donna Pittman, development director, at 217/403-2048, or e-mail dpittman@champaign.org.