DeKalb Library Foundation Newsletter - Spring 2025
Learning Spaces Expands at DCPL
The DeKalb Library Foundation funds a second Learning Spaces initiative
Learning Spaces provides a multigenerational space for caregivers and children (birth to five) to connect, play, learn, and grow. The program prepares children for school and empowers parents to be the first teacher. The United Way of Greater Atlanta funds a Learning Spaces program at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library. More than forty families regularly attend the weekly two-hour sessions at this location which began in the fall of 2023. In partnership with United Way of Greater Atlanta, DeKalb Library Foundation provided funding to DeKalb County Public Library for an additional Learning Spaces location at Scott Candler Library which began hosting families in February. Stay tuned for more information about this literacy initiative!
Books+Bites 2025
At the end of January, DeKalb Library Foundation supporters enjoyed the first Books+Bites of 2025. Local author and Emory-Decatur Hospital administrator, Dr. Matt Hogan shared stories and insights from his book, Foot in Mouth Disease: Musings of an Unfiltered Physician. Dr. Hogan shared his appreciation for this event, “I loved how engaged the crowd was. I think I was at the podium for nearly an hour and that level of interest is incredibly validating to an author trying to put a little piece of themselves into the world.” Look for more Books+Bites events later this year.
President’s Message from Tim Martin
Your generous donations make a big impact every year. In 2024, the DeKalb Library Foundation funded more than 400 library programs attended or viewed by more than 25,000 children and adults. Your support allows us to add Learning Spaces at the Scott Candler Library. Supporting Learning Spaces will provide families in DeKalb with a researched-based literacy opportunity. We hope you will continue your support in 2025.
New Board Member Spotlight
We welcome the new members of the DeKalb Library Foundation Board of Directors.
Anne Bernau | Senior Director, Talent and Development, Coca-Cola Company
“The library brings me endless hours of knowledge, entertainment, and community. I am excited to help the library’s programs and services”
Katie Clarke | Community Leader
“Librarians are my heroes. I go to the library to be close to them.”
Tanya Frazee | Senior Director of Development, Intown Cares
“I love libraries. I spent countless hours in my local library with my daughter: choosing books and other media, reading together, and participating in the many free activities for parents and children. I also see libraries as a great equalizer. The library is one of the few places in our community where everyone gathers, regardless of socioeconomic status, and I am so proud to support them.”
Laura Lindeman | Blog Editor and Strategist, GitHub
“I love the library because I love to read, and it’s a joy to have so many books freely available. I want everyone to be able to experience getting lost in the world of a good story!”
Asali Powers | Community Leader
“I love the library because whether it’s discovering a new interesting book, attending an engaging workshop, or finding inspiration in the wealth of resources, the library has a way of making me experience being a citizen of a world of endless possibilities.”
Tyra Seals | Associate Director of Development, The Nature Conservancy
“I view the library as a multigenerational space for learning and information access. We know that an informed public is a powerful one, and all individuals deserve the opportunity to understand our world through literature, technology, and shared programming with others! I experienced the library’s broad reach early in life as part of the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl and Library Teen Advisory Board. An emphasis on lifelong learning and literacy is something I’m passionate about and look forward to making reality as part of the Board.”
Readers Circle
Kathryn R. Adams
Ajit and Tripti Yoganathan Charitable Fund
Dwayne C. Angelo
Beverly Armento
Carrie Armistead
Antoine H. and Frances T. Ayoub
Susan D. Baker
Carol P. Bartlett
Cynde Beckner
Yolanda Bell
Mark Biddle and Karen Golden-Biddle
Julie Binney
Jenni and Dana Blankenhorn
Sandra and David Block
Karen Briggs
James Ronald Broadway
Erin Brooks
Stephen Cain
Jamie Aviendha Calderon
Lorraine Rooks Cary
Jennifer Casarella
Christi Cassel and Bryan Skeen
Jeremy Christensen
Felix Chu
Cathy Clark
Naomi Clark
Karen Cobham-Owens
Charles and Elizabeth Cohn
G. Mark Cole
Katherine Singley Dannenberg
Carmen Deedy and John McCutcheon
Gayle Propes Denton
Portia and Charlie Dischinger
Dunwoody Woman’s Club
Cindy Evans
Edwin Ewing
Charlene Fang
Claudia Fedarko and Stephen Hadler
Amy Figueroa
Tanya Frazee
Mary L. Garner
Mary J. Garrett
Allen Ginsberg
Cathy Godwin
George Grills
Kat Hedrick
Nancy Hicks
Jacalyn D. Hightower
Susan and Chris Hodges
2024 Donor Circles of Giving
Hunter Family Fund
Lynn Shevonne Jefferson
Jill Joplin
William and Jennifer Kaduck
Judith and Leslie Klemperer
Brian A. Klems
Muriel Knope
Sharon Landis
Adina Langer
Ann H. Lanner
John Lawrence
Brenda Leder
Shirley Lee
Lisa W. Lefkovits
Geraldine L. Luttrell
Donna Mann
Tim Martin
Fredericka Tooley McGhee
Kathleen McHugh
Christina McPhillips
Evelyn W. Menne
Steven Metchis
Gina Lou Morgan
Jonathan Morton
Doyle and Pat Mote
Suzanne K. Nieman
Marie and Eric Nitschke
Emily Novicki
Marguerite Paul
Anne Payne
Francis Petrus
Patricia Pharo
Barbara Pierce
Jaanki Purohit
LeeAnne M. Richardson
Gail Ronan
Rose Anne Rudd
Ann and Steve Rushing
Hugh Saxon
Katherine Scharer
Edward A. Scheer
Mary Scott
Barbara Sherman
Susan D. Small
Peter Smith
Kiesha R. Storey
Ryan Summers
Loretta Tennyson
Ryan Paul Thayer
William Thomas
Raymundo Tinoco, Jr.
Jill Warner
Otis O. White
John F. Whittemore
George and Judy Wieder
Jonathan Graham Williams
Margaret and John Willingham
Robert E. and Lynda Wilson
Michael L. Witten
Elisa Wong
Pamela A. Wuichet
Kathryn H. Zuehlke
Authors Circle
James P. Alexander
Alvaro Alonso
Jane Watt Balsley and William Jarvis Ellis
Patricia Bauer
John and Holly Bennett
Kevin Brill
Mitch Costley
Cybergrants
Elinor “Perky” Daniel
Nancy Franklin
Georgia Romance Writers, Inc.
Barbara Gifford
Annie Godfrey and Jack Kittle
Andrew Godfrey-Kittle
Bonnie J.P. Greene
Anne-Marie Happe
Michael Harbin and Rowena Worrall
Susanne W. Howe
Nancy and Edward Hudgins
Carolyn and Rob Johnson
Randall and Amy Kirsch
Catherine Lautenbacher
Anne Lerner
Laura Lones
Lindsay Lyons
Susan and Bradley
Malemezian
Lesley McClure
Elizabeth and Patrick Moore
Carol Morgan
Vee Nelson
New York Life
Jeffrey Paris
Vincent Pomeroy
Roger and Joanna Quillen
Louise H. Reaves
Kimberly Sampson
Carran Schneider
Schwab Charitable
Chris Sidor and Bobbi Kay
F. Albert and Karen Skellie
Kathy Tomajko
Debbie Torbush
Christine Tryba-Cofrin
William and Rhonda Ward
Anita Wathen-Brownlee
Darro and Huyen Willey
Tyler Wiseman
Publishers Circle
Anonymous
Ann Marie Baggett
Susan Barrett
Natalie B. Bernstein
Jennifer Carver
Jasmine K. Chang
Mildred Cody
Larry and Lois Curry
Doug and Christine Davis
Harold and Sandra Dickerson
Mary Ann Dodd
Connie Downing
Catherine Fike
Scott and Sara Fowler
Friends of the Dunwoody Library
Theresa Gillespie
Margaret Graff and Richard Higgins
Sharon Gridley
Joanne Hauserman
Angela Huynh and Richard Bakare
Nancy Jordan
Vicki Karnes and Beth Lotterhos
Karen A. Kroeger
Brian W. LaBrie
Laura Chaires Lindeman
Peter Lindsay and Kate Binzen
Molly and Scott Marrah
Scott McAuley
Hannah McCord
Peggy Merriss
Mind Bubble
Maria Mirabelli
Michele NeSmith
Anne Nicolson
Northern New York Library Network
Edith W. Padgette
Party Animals Atlanta
PayPal Giving Fund
Pediatric Foundation of Georgia, Inc.
Guy and Charlotte Pfeiffer
Lynne Pickens
Marion Reynolds Powell
Pamela Privette
Sumathi Ramachandran
Charlotte Redo
Deborah G. Robinson
Elizabeth and Matthew Rose
Ted Rubenstein
Pamela Ryan
Shara and Garrett Sanders
The Screen Porch Foundation
Starbucks Foundation:
Neighborhood Grants Fund
Chad Swanson
Thomas B. and Jo Logan
Family Foundation
Elizabeth W. Thomas
Stephanie J. Van Parys
Lance Waller
Alison and Chris Weissinger
Angela C. White
Ed and Sarah Wiley
Pamela Woodley and Perry Mitchell
Scholars Circle
Anonymous
Atlanta Foundation
Decatur Rotary Club
Alice Domby
Mary Brown Fund of Atlanta
Li Liu and Conor McNally
Arthur Ratliff
Bruce and Barbara Ribner
Tim and Amy Rider
Kristine Rudolph
Stephanie and Joe Weishaar
Literati Circle
Anonymous Benevity
Jan Carter
Jonathan Chaires and Deborah Levine
Estate of Sally J. Eggleston
Frances Wood Wilson Foundation
Friends of the NorthlakeBarbara Loar Library
Kares 4 Kids Partners
Kate and Robert Kennedy
Anne Kerner and Ted Waters
LuluMa Foundation
Joseph Mandarino and Stephanie Ward
Mary Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation
Mary Rice Living Trust
Save The Libraries Foundation
Deborah Jackson
Co-Chair of Board of
DeKalb County Public Library
2025 Board of Directors
Tim Martin President Elisabeth Nark Vice-President
