FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE      DATE: 4/7/05

 

CONTACT: LESLIE SCHALER, COMMUNICATION ASST., 413-545-0162

 

UMASS AMHERST LIBRARY FUNDRAISER DOUBLES AGAIN

 

     Amherst , MA - On Saturday, April 2, 2005 , the Friends of the UMass Amherst Library hosted the third annual “Dinner with Friends” at the campus' University Club. This dinner is a key fundraising event for the UMass Amherst Libraries. The first fundraiser in 2003 raised $4,000; in 2004, that number was doubled to $8,000; and this year the event netted approximately $16,000.

     This year's “ Dinner with Friends” featured five notable guest authors—George Howe Colt, Anne Fadiman, Julius Lester, Hilary Price, and Betty Rosbottom— in addition to a multi-course feast, silent auction, and an autographed book raffle. The evening was kicked off with welcoming remarks from Chancellor John V. Lombardi.

     Copies of the author's books were available for sale thanks to the Jeffrey Amherst Bookshop. The Jeffrey Amherst Bookshop is donating a portion of the proceeds to the UMass Amherst Library.

     This year's business sponsors included the Amherst Athletic Club; Bay State Perennial Farm; Big Y; Blair, Cutting & Smith; Bonbons de Bourguignon®; William J. Cray; Dell Inc.; Florence Savings Bank; Gravity Switch; Hadley Garden Center ; Jeffery Amherst Bookshop; Jessica Berger Personal Fitness Training; Mama Nirvana's New Yoga; MicroTek; Nathan Agencies/Amherst Insurance; National Evaluation Systems Inc.; and Summa Therapeutic Massage.

     All proceeds of the event will benefit the Friends of the Library Endowment, w hich funds the acquisition of books, journals, and other materials for the UMass Amherst Libraries. This endowment is eligible for the state's 50% gift matching program, the P ublic Higher Education Capital & Endowment Incentive Program , which will match, at a rate of 50 cents per dollar gifts contrib ute d to qualifying endowed funds received by June 30, 2005 . For more information regarding giving to the Library please contact Emily Silverman, Director of Development, at 545-0995 or essilverman@library.umass.edu.

     The UMass Amherst Libraries include the W.E.B. Du Bois Library and the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Libraries, both of which are open to the public.