by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
It wasn’t the Cummer Ball or one of Jacksonville’s other high-society gatherings that drew a big crowd to the Main Library Friday night. Instead, about 300 people interested in promoting the public library system in Jacksonville forked over big money to kick start the 2006 fundraising campaign of the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation.
“We had over $100,000 in ticket sales,” said Mike Hightower, chairman of the Foundation’s first gala. “We had over 300 people who paid $250, $1,500 and $2,500 per couple to attend. The Weavers (Jaguars owners Wayne and Delores) were there and the mayor (John Peyton) was there.”
According to Hightower, the Foundation was created about 20 years ago as a way to supplement the public library’s budget. Because the library is only able to generate so much income and its budget is set by the mayor’s office and approved by City Council, for much of the past two decades there hasn’t been much in the Foundation’s account. Hightower and his Foundation board are out to change that.
“We want to get $10 million in the Foundation’s endowment in the next five years,” said Hightower, who is with BlueCross and BlueShield and is also the local Republican Party chairman. “The endowment will go towards supplies, programs and books — things that are not covered by the library’s budget.”
Hightower will have help over the next five years. Betsy Lovett, who chaired the first Cummer Ball, is the Foundation’s secretary and civic leader. Robin Albaneze is also on the board.
To date, the Foundation has donated over $3 million for enhancements to the Main Library, aesthetic improvements that were above and beyond the library’s $95 million price tag. Those enhancements include construction materials, upgrades for wood, marble and lighting as well as the purchase of artwork.
“Another $1 million has been set aside for the maintenance of those enhancements,” said Hightower, adding the Foundation’s next big event is May’s Much Ado About Books. “We are looking to raise another $100,000 at that event.”
Hightower stressed that the Foundation does not use taxpayer money for any of its projects. And, while the gala Friday night attracted an affluent crowd and lots was spent on enhancements for the library system’s anchor branch, Hightower said, at heart, the Foundation is about assuring that all the branches within the Jacksonville Public Library System have the basics.
“We raise money for all programs collections, books and supplies,” he said. “We have doubled the size of the library system and a lot of the branches are short on books and reading programs. A library system our size should have about $35 million to $55 million in its endowment. But, that will take 20 years to raise.
“We have never had an endowment before. This is a new frontier for us. The people that came Friday night understand it and they get it. They were people who believe in the library system. They are business leaders and civic leaders and they are passionate about the library system.”