Fort Smith Public Library grows endowment with a ‘Party!’

More than 100 supporters of the Fort Smith Public Library Endowment gathered Thursday night (May 2) at Second Street Live in downtown Fort Smith for a special musical party that featured the Don Bailey Jazz Ensemble, Alexandra Salamone and Gary Hutchison and the Oreo Blue Trio.

Cindy Long, endowment director, said the event is an effort to raise awareness of the library with those who may not attend other library events.

“We want more people to learn about the library and what it means to the community and how the endowment supports the library,” Long explained.

The endowment trust was created in 1996 with a bequest from the Leah Cohn Arendt estate, and has grown to more than $2.6 million as of the end of 2012. Long said the goal is to reach $3 million within the year.

During the past five years, more than $884,000 has been invested in the endowment through donations, interest and dividends.

Endowment support for the library includes construction of Dewey’s Cafe, author events, parking lot banners, holiday lights, additions to the library’s permanent art collection and implementation of the Carnegie Society for planned giving.

The trust has grown from 12 original donors to a donor list of more than 250.

“We’re very proud of that community support,” Long said.

Sponsors of the Thursday night “We’re Having a Party!” event were Davis Iron and Metal (Brenda and Carl Davis) and Marilyn Patterson.