New Ferndale Library

On January 21, 2010 Polar Tankers and its parent company, ConocoPhillips announced a $6,000 contribution to the Whatcom Community Foundation (Foundation) for a project to build a new library in Ferndale.  With this gift, Polar Tankers and ConocoPhillips become one of the early corporate donors for the new public library, to be constructed on Main Street, west of Ferndale City Hall.  The check was presented by Jeffrey P. Shaw, Marine Superintendent of Polar Tankers to Mauri Ingram, President and CEO of the Whatcom Community Foundation.

“While Polar’s ships travel up and down the west coast, many of our employees live in the state of Washington,” explains Polar Tankers’ local marine superintendent Jeff Shaw. “Contributing to a new library in Ferndale is a great way to support and invest in a community where we live and work,” adds Shaw.

The Ferndale community’s demand for library services exceeds the existing building’s capacity. The economic downturn continues to result in record numbers of visitors; in some cases, more than 900 people per day visit the branch.

A group of long time supporters of the New Ferndale Library gathered  on a sunny, crisp Wednesday morning to mark a project milestone. A colorful sign promoting the project and the associated capital campaign was posted on the future library site on Main Street west of City Hall. The campaign is already more than half way to its goal, including the generous contribution from an anonymous donor to the Whatcom Community Foundation, the Ferndale city council’s commitment of funds and other assets, a Whatcom County Library System budget allocation and several individual contributions! Click on an image for a larger view.

N E W S   R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Ferndale Library Project Gets Main Street Presence

Bellingham, Washington - December 11, 2009 - The New Ferndale Library Project turned its first shovel of dirt. Project co-sponsors, the City of Ferndale, Whatcom County Library System and the Whatcom Community Foundation (Foundation), along with other library supporters celebrated the installation of a sign announcing the site for the new facility. The sign includes a capital campaign "thermometer" that incorporates a colorful stack of books in place of the typical mercury to illustrate the campaign's progress toward its $5 million goal.

The new library will be located west of Ferndale's City Hall. Gifts and pledges to date, including the generous $1 million anonymous contribution to the Foundation and the City council's commitment of $1 million in cash toward the project, total more than $2.75 million. This $5 million goal includes land acquisition, preliminary construction, furniture, equipment and other project costs.

For more information about the New Ferndale Library Project, please visit www.newferndalelibrary.org. Tax deductible donations to the New Ferndale Library Project may be sent to Whatcom Community Foundation, 119 Grand Avenue, Suite A, Bellingham,WA  98225.  Please note "Ferndale Library Project" in the memo section of your check.  Online donations can be made at www.whatcomcf.org.  The New Ferndale Library Project is a fund of the Foundation and was established with an anonymous $1 million gift in 2006.

Whatcom Community Foundation, founded in 1996, is a dynamic vehicle for philanthropy and community building in Whatcom County. The Foundation currently holds more than 100 funds totaling more than $9 million to benefit Whatcom County nonprofit organizations in all areas of service to the community. The organization has granted more than $2 million to numerous local nonprofits since July 1, 2008. The Foundation also provides services to donors who wish their charitable giving to be as effective as possible.

Contact:

Mauri Ingram, President & CEO

Whatcom Community Foundation
119 Grand Avenue, Suite A
Bellingham, WA  98225
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(360) 671-6463