Good Morning Gloucester

Sawyer Free 2025 (visit sawyerfree2025.org), the philanthropic capital campaign to fund a comprehensive renovation, modernization and expansion of Gloucester’s public library building, is proud to announce the offer of a $100,000 challenge grant by a private family foundation. If Gloucester and the surrounding Cape Ann community can raise that sum in a 75-day window ending December 31, the new library project will receive a matching gift of another $100,000. 

The Sawyer Free 2025 campaign is a transformational investment in Gloucester’s future. This time-restricted, dollar-for-dollar match by a fund that wishes to remain anonymous will help renovate and expand our library, but on one condition: Gloucester must come together to give $100,000 to match this challenge and receive the grant. Any donation during this grant-offer window will constitute a booster rocket for getting the campaign $200,000 closer to meeting its goal. 

“The fact that an out-of-town philanthropist is willing to offer a six-figure challenge grant to Sawyer Free 2025 is a powerful validation of the virtue and worth of this project,” said Barry Weiner, a retired attorney and the campaign chair for Sawyer Free 2025. “The newly renovated and expanded Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library will stand as a model for what a 21st century civic hub can and should be, and if the citizens of Gloucester and folks around the North Shore accept this challenge to pitch in whatever they can to help us secure this extra $100,000, it would be another loud statement by this community, which has already demonstrated an inspiring level of support for this project.”

The most advanced Western democracies have embraced the fact that modern libraries are a nexus of education, community, innovation, economic advancement, technology, wellness, civic engagement, assimilation, belonging, preventative care, climate justice, lifelong learning, research and free programming. Gloucester deserves to be part of this revolution.

Sawyer Free Library provides a lifeline of resources serving people from all walks of life, but it’s beset by severe limitations of space, navigation, technology and mobility-device access. While the library staff continues to provide the best possible services and programming for our entire community, the Sawyer Library Foundation is committed to rallying all of Cape Ann to support this campaign to modernize our beloved institution and create a space that will reflect the amazing things that happen within the building.

The Sawyer Free 2025 project’s total cost is $28 million, a sum that includes built-in inflation costs through the completion of the project in 2025. The Sawyer Library Foundation, the fundraising arm of the campaign, has already secured more than $15 million in pledged donations and grant awards, including $1 million in donations in the first 150 days following the public launch of the campaign this past May. 

It’s never been easier to help this cause. Every tax-deductible dollar donated between now and December 31 becomes two dollars thanks to a challenge by a matching funds grantor. That means a $50 gift becomes $100, $250 becomes $500, and so on. To learn more, visit sawyerfree2025.org.

✓ How do contact Sawyer Free 2025?

info@sawyerfree2025.org

media@sawyerfree2025.org

Call 978.225.0363 or 978.225.0915

Facebook: Sawyer Free 2025

Instagram: Sawyer Free 2025

YouTube: Sawyer Library Foundation 2025

✓ How Do I Give to Sawyer Free 2025?

• Visit sawyerfree2025.org
• Text to donate: Text “325182” to 1-855-575-7888 and select an amount
• Checks: SF2025, 2 Dale Ave., Gloucester, 01930 (Checks payable to: “Sawyer Library Foundation”)
• Volunteer! Reach out if you want to pitch in at the library or with the capital campaign, either in person or virtually. Help your neighbors, serve your community and share your expertise. No matter what kind of volunteer work you do for us, you are contributing in invaluable ways.

Why should you choose LCI Services?!-Owner has 25 years experience-All staff are IICRC Certified-Live people answering the phones-New state of the art equipment-Easy to order services, and provide payment “in just one click!”-100% Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!

Call today to schedule your free estimate!

www.lci-services.com

978-704-9757

Here’s a photo dump of some of the photos taken at yesterday’s Children’s Halloween Party held at the Elks. It was a very successful afternoon full of fun, music, candy, costumes and smiles. So many cute costumes! Well done, families! Great job Elks!

A variety of encounters over the last week.

Bare Bones…

for tickets www.ccals.org

Make sure to get your pizza for football Sunday

147 Thatcher Rd, Gloucester, MA 01930

(978) 281-1700

https://www.surfsidesubsgloucester.com/