There’s a Seat for Everyone

Board Member Donna Harris-Lewis Honors her Family in Rabb Hall.

Reflecting on her ties to the Boston nonprofit world, Boston Public Library Fund Board Member Donna Harris-Lewis has seen firsthand how philanthropy and public–private partnerships help to end societal disparities. “Libraries have always been a place where people can learn and discover new things so that they can go wherever they want in the world and overcome any barriers in their way,” she says.

Recently, Donna dedicated seats in the

Hailer Family Lights Up Bates Hall

Fifty years ago, Edward and Maureen Farrington immigrated to the United States from Ireland and found the Boston Public Library to be a place that offered safety, solace, and a sense of belonging

Today, their daughter Maureen Hailer and son-in-law John Hailer (a member of the Boston Public Library’s Board of Trustees) chose to recognize the special couple by naming a reading lamp in Bates Hall in their honor. The inscription on the brass plaque reads, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

“The Library is as important to our community now, as it was then,” says Maureen. “For that reason, we wanted to honor my parents by continuing to shed light in Bates Hall for generations to come.”

Learn more at bplfund.org/illuminatingbates

Central Library’s Rabb Hall with a donation to the Fund in memory of her late husband, Reginald “Reggie” Lewis Sr., Boston Celtic captain, and in honor of their son and daughter.

“Naming four seats in Rabb Hall,” she says, “is my way to give back and support the Library’s initiatives that help people pursue their professional and personal goals.”

To learn more, visit bplfund.org/rabb

New Initiative Unlocks Current Support

The Boston Public Library Fund (BPLF) has launched its first-ever Bequest Challenge — an effort to raise awareness and interest in legacy giving. Thanks to the generosity of a longtime board member, bequests made in a will or living trust will be matched with a current-use gift — increasing the impact of support.

“The 1848 Bequest Challenge is an opportunity to be a part of the future of this beloved Boston treasure, while unlocking current support for programs that benefit our community today,” says BPLF Deputy Executive Director Carol Estes-Schwartz. “This is one way patrons can develop long-term strategies to benefit the people and organizations they hold dearest.”

Learn more at https://giftplanning.bplfund.org