(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - A recent $25,000 donation from Wells Fargo is a welcome “jump-start” to the Friends of the Ketchikan Public Library capital campaign for a new library building, according to Susan Fisher who is helping spearhead the funding efforts.

The check was presented to the Friends at its quarterly meeting in May by Joseph Lanham, Wells Fargo district president for Southeast Alaska. He was accompanied by local Store Managers Charisse Seludo and Keith Davis.

From left to right: Ketchikan Wells Fargo representatives Keith Davis, Charisse Seludo, Joseph Lanham, and Friends of the Library board member Susan Fisher.
Photograph By Jeff Fitzwater

The City of Ketchikan is currently planning to build a new $12 million library in upper Bear Valley on Copper Ridge Lane. Ketchikan voters in 2010 approved up to $5.2 million in revenue bonds for the project, and the state Legislature this past session included $6 million in the capital budget for the project.

The Friends of the Ketchikan Public Library's hope is to augment government funds with private donations.

“We recognize the city is counting on private funding, and every dollar we raise in the capital campaign will reduce the taxpayer burden and enhance the building,” Fisher said. “We really want to thank the local bank employees who saw this opportunity to ask for and get corporate funding for our new library. It’s very encouraging.”

On behalf of his organization, Lanham stressed the importance of education within the community.

"Education is a top funding priority for Wells Fargo and we hope our investment in the Ketchikan Library encourages other companies to join us in our support," he said.

Lanham said the $25,000 donation for the library is just part of a total $46,000 Wells Fargo has donated to other local projects so far this year.

The Friends’ organization is a non-profit 501 (c)(3).

On the Web:

Friends of the Library
http://www.friendsoftheketchikanlibrary.org/

SitNews ©2011
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources.