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Imagine trying to grow a business when 44 out of 100 workers cannot read and comprehend the company’s mission, vision and strategy.

Imagine the limited possibilities that exist in an area where low literacy skills cost businesses and taxpayers $20 billion in lost wages, profits and productivity annually.

These scenarios are not difficult to imagine when:

• Nearly half of the population in Cuyahoga County over the age of 16 possesses low literacy skills that exclude them from all but minimum wage work.
  
• Children in low-income families hear only 10 million words by their third birthday, while those in upper-income families hear more than 30 million words. Language skills at ages 9 and 10 reflect a child’s vocabulary exposure from birth to age 3.
  
• Almost 7 out of every 10 public schools in Cuyahoga County do not meet the minimum passage rate for fourth grade reading proficiency.
  
• Only 46% of low- to moderate-income families have a broadband connection at home, compared with over 90% of higher-income families.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation exists to support Cuyahoga County Public Library in enhancing the quality of life in our region by:

• Fostering a reading public, where literacy translates into economic impact.
  
• Supporting individuals at all stages in life with opportunities to learn and develop skills through programs, classes and resources that inform, enrich and educate.
  
• Providing free access to technology and public meeting space, where individuals, small businesses and entrepreneurs can connect, learn, grow and prosper.

Your support of the Foundation will help us ensure that all of our community members have the ability to read, learn and connect through Cuyahoga County Public Library.

Contact our Development Office in our Library Administration Building for more information by email or phone at 216-749-9420 or 216-749-9338.

2013 Foundation Board meeting dates

All meetings begin at 4:00 pm and will be held at the Independence Branch,
6361 Selig Drive, Independence 44131 unless otherwise noted.

January 30th

February 27th  

March 27th

April 24th

May 29th Brecksville Branch, 9089 Brecksville Road, Brecksville 44141

June: No meeting (Reading The Green golf outing June 24)

July: No meeting

August 21st

September 25th 

October 30th

November 20th Brecksville Branch

December: Annual Fund letter signings, by appointment

About the Foundation

Cuyahoga County Public Library is a vital community resource. Now more than ever, area residents are turning to the Library for access to critical services. In recent years, the Library has experienced extraordinary growth in usage, but regressive funding levels have made it difficult to meet increasing demand.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation was established to help ensure that Library customers have access to these services now and into the future. If you have made a charitable donation to the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation, your generosity has made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of county residents.

Cuyahoga County Public Library is an essential community resource.  We provide a unique combination of resources and services free of charge to all.  From afterschool Homework Centers, to support for job seekers, to computer training classes, to educational programs for children and adults, we are making a difference in the community.

With your help we can do more.  As public libraries continue to experience funding reductions, your charitable donations are more significant than ever.  Thank you for helping us to continue to change lives and improve the quality of life for all county residents.

Every donations helps:

• $50 buys 10 Early Literacy Kits to help foster the skills children need to become readers.
• $550 covers the cost of a Digital Media Class for 15 youth participants.
• $300 buys school supplies for 2 Homework Centers.
• $4,000 provides a Touch Screen Computer Learning Lab for preschoolers.

Please know that your gift to the Foundation is 100 % tax deductible.  As a separate 501(c)(3) entity, the Foundation acts as the steward of all charitable contributions to the Library and works to ensure the efficient use of private sector funds. The Foundation has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that all gifts to the Library are used for the purposes intended by our donors. Through the Foundation’s signature fundraiser, The William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Program, we bring nationally recognized authors to the Ohio Theatre.

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