Gloucester, MA—BankGloucester has made a charitable donation of $250,000 to Sawyer Free 2025 (visit sawyerfree2025.org), a newly launched philanthropic capital campaign to fund a comprehensive renovation, modernization and expansion of Gloucester’s public library building. A powerful demonstration of the institution’s longtime corporate citizenship and social-mindedness, BankGloucester’s gift underscores the company’s goal of raising standards of living and advancing quality of life in the communities it serves.

“The Sawyer Free Library has been an important part of this community for many generations,” said BankGloucester President & CEO Patrick Thorpe. “We at BankGloucester are pleased to make this contribution and to be a part of this project. As a source of educational and reference materials as well as programming for both students and adults, Sawyer promotes enrichment and enjoyment for all ages. Additionally, it’s always been an ideal location for community gatherings and meetings. This renovation and expansion will enable our library to continue to be a significant resource for the people of Gloucester, both now and in the future.”

The Sawyer Free 2025 project will preserve the original exterior of Cape Ann’s oldest public library, which will house a fully redesigned interior, and will also double the size of the existing library’s footprint with a 15,000-square foot addition.

“BankGloucester’s generous contribution represents a high-octane injection of momentum into a campaign that’s poised to hit overdrive,” said Barry Weiner, a retired attorney and the campaign chair for Sawyer Free 2025. “Not only does this gift show the kind of impact BankGloucester is having on all aspects of the communities it serves, including economic, social and environmental, but this is a tremendous validation of our vision to fund this once-in-a-lifetime investment in a vital community resource. We believe our fellow citizens of Gloucester as well as residents across Cape Ann will respond to this show of support and rise to this occasion with donations both big and small.”

The design principles of Sawyer Free 2025 are grounded in the human experience and an ambition to put people first. The newly renovated and expanded Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library will stand as an exemplar of what a 21st century civic hub can and should be in terms of architecture, accessibility, sustainability, the use of natural resources and light, layouts, lines of sight, air quality and public safety. The end product will exponentially amplify the library’s ability to deliver critical services and outcomes not only for Gloucester, but for communities across Cape Ann and the North Shore as a place of equity, inclusion, connection, creation, compassion, renewal and advancement.

The Sawyer Free 2025 project’s total cost is $28 million, a sum that includes built-in inflation costs through completion of the project in 2025. The Sawyer Library Foundation, the fundraising arm of the campaign, has already inspired more than $14.3 million in pledged donations and grant awards. The completion of the new facility—featuring a sound studio, a film studio, a digital tech lab and 110-seat community meeting space—will result in a 25-percent increase in annual visitors, a 25-percent increase in the number of public programs offered each month by the library and a 50-percent increase in the number of programs hosted at the library by partner agencies.

BankGloucester provides financial support on a year-round basis to area charities, community events and projects. Since 2008, the bank has engaged customers and the broader community in choosing the beneficiaries of its annual Banking for the Community program. BankGloucester also annually supports civic-minded students who exemplify community servant-leadership, awarding $12,500 in scholarships to five high school graduates every year.

For more information on BankGloucester’s involvement in the community, visit: bankgloucester.com/about/community/

✓ How do I learn more or contact Sawyer Free 2025?

Visit sawyerfree2025.org

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.

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Sawyer Library Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. Our Determination Letter issued by the IRS can be viewed at sawyerfree2025.org. SFL2025’s EIN is: 84-2837206.

BankGloucester, with assets of $350 million, is a state-chartered mutual bank serving Gloucester and its neighboring communities since 1887. BankGloucester is headquartered at 160 Main Street in Gloucester and has branches at 15 Martin Street in Essex and 143 High Street in Ipswich. It is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a member of the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF). At BankGloucester, all deposits are insured in full.

BankGloucesterBigCheck: Current and former Gloucester High students, all passionate library patrons, gather at the Sawyer Free Library to celebrate BankGloucester’s powerfully impactful donation of $250,000 to the Sawyer Free 2025 campaign to renovate and expand Cape Ann’s oldest public library (sawyerfree2025.org). (front row, l to r) GHS graduate Tori Carini, now a rising senior at UNH, GHS junior Trinity O’Leary, GHS senior Yahir Collado, bound for UMass Amherst, GHS senior Darcy Muller, who will attend college at UC Santa Clara, and GHS graduate Alexander Oaks, a rising senior at Trinity College (Conn.); (back row, l to r) Sawyer Free 2025 Campaign Manager Sarah Oaks, BankGloucester President & CEO Patrick Thorpe, Sawyer Free 2025 Campaign Chair Barry Weiner, Library Director Jenny Benedict and Library Board of Trustees President Mern Sibley.

Tranquility…

Hi Joe –

Is there any chance that you could put a notice on Good Morning Gloucester that the SVDP clothes closet will be reopening this Saturday, June 4 in the basement of St. Ann Church (no longer in St. Ann School) .  The closet will be open on the first and third Saturday of every month from 9AM to 12noon.  Entrance to the closet will be through the door on Smith Street.  We look forward to warmly welcoming all our friends back.  It has been a long time since we closed due to the pandemic.

Thanks, Joe, for your help.  Sorry for the late notice.  If you have any questions, just email me back.  You are welcome to come for a visit!!

Jeanne Smith

It was one of those days when there was a haze coming off the water as well as some fog lingering in the air in mysterious ways. There were several vessels fishing or heading out near the breakwater even though the water was pretty choppy. The vessels included My Girls II, Clean Sweep, Lady Dee, Joy Frances, First Impression II, Miss Rebecka, Whitney & Ashley, Bay Drifter and Michael D.

What a beautiful street scene.

Available as a print contact me at goodmorninggloucester@yahoo.com

GMG Jim Dalpiaz performs “Taps” at the site of the World War II memorial on the boulevard to honor the sacrifices made by our military.