A Heartfelt Thank You to the Supporters to the Oliver Wolcott Library

LITCHFIELD, Conn. - Nov. 29, 2016 - PRLog -- I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the supporters of the Oliver Wolcott Library.

At last week's 28th annual Oliver Wolcott Library Festival of Trees fundraiser, our wonderful and special community - supported by an extraordinary team of volunteers and Library staff – turned out to support our Town's principal public library. Individuals, businesses and sponsors gave generously in support of this critical event, to provide dollars that will be a vital component to funding OWL's operating budget.  Dollars that will help our Library continue to thrive.

This year in particular, we have much to celebrate at OWL. During 2016, our library achieved the very impressive milestone, attaining the rank as #3 library in the state for adult circulation per capita out of 180 libraries in Connecticut. This statistic shows, first hand, how much our community values their library. Thank you to our residents for their patronage, devotion and generosity.

The Festival of Trees is the single most important fundraising event for OWL. Unlike many libraries in our state that are 100% funded by taxpayer dollars, OWL relies on private donations from our community for more than 50% of its annual funding. The generosity of our community on one special night allows OWL to offer each and every library event and program, free-of-charge, for the remaining 364 days of the year. OWL provides a vital service to our community with many cutting edge initiatives and programs, and thanks are due to our supportive community for making this possible.

Organizing an event such as Festival of Trees takes tremendous energy and dedication. Planning began in March, a full eight months before the event.  The success of Festival rests squarely on the shoulders of our exceptional Festival planning team - nearly 100 dedicated volunteers - led by a capable and passionate group of Chairs: Colette Boyd (Silent Auction), Beth Murphy (Raffle Chair), Maura Malo (Program Sales), Marla Patterson (Decorations), Kyra Hartnett and Megan Kowalchick (Trees and Wreaths), Rob Hartnett (Lighting& Sound) and Egils Bogdanovics (Bar).

Success for Festival also takes a great base of sponsorship. We are exceptionally thankful to this year's Festival sponsors, including Platinum Sponsors: Arethusa Farm Dairy, Elizabeth Garber Daniels, Jim and Faye Preston; Gold Sponsors: Douglas & Suzanne Day, Lauren & Armand Della Monica, Carole Gibney, Robert G. Nathan, Stuart Building Products, and Union Savings Bank; Silver Sponsors: Gregorio Alvarez & Willian O'Shaughnessy, Anne & Philip Bergan, Concrete Reinforcing Products, Connecticut Community Foundation,  E.J. Murphy Realty, Litchfield Bancorp, Mrs. Charles W. Marshall, Joseph Montebello & Ron Leal, Deborah & Declan Murphy, O&G Industries, Roderic Oneglia, Philip G. Sampanaro, Lois & Marc Shafir, Teno West, Grace & D'jan Yagtug, and the fifty-three generous and supportive Bronze Sponsors. Our Festival also benefited greatly from the compelling raffle items provided by Lawrence Jeffrey Estate Jewelers, Bantam Market, and Bantam Home & Energy, and special publicity support provided by Litchfield Magazine.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I offer our sincere gratitude for the tireless effort, passion, creativity, time and dollars offered by OWL's volunteers and our generous supporters. Thank you for joining with us in celebrating the opening of the holiday season.  You made OWL's Festival of Trees a truly remarkable success.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

Emily Dalton

President, Board of Trustees

Oliver Wolcott Library

http://www.owlibrary.org