Nadine and Richard Edwards receive ‘Legacy of 1875 Award’ for longtime support
By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
High energy. Fun. Incredible. Frenzied.
That’s how guests at Wood County District Public Library Foundation’s Novel Night described the evening filled with delicious food, fast-action bidding and the support of a like-minded community that loves its library.
The event was started in 2009 to raise funds to go toward materials—primarily print, audio and digital books. None of it goes toward operations.
A fundraiser became a necessity after the 2008 recession that “rocked the library’s financial status,” said Brian Paskvan, president of the library’s foundation board.
“We didn’t have a levy at that point, state funding was down, and things were pretty ugly,” he said, recalling that staff were furloughed and the library was closed for a couple of days in order to make payroll. “When we came out of that, we knew we never wanted to be in that position again.”
Pat Maurer suggested the library needed a major fundraiser; she and her husband, Bob, became the creators “of all this,” Paskvan said. Over the last 17 years, the event has raised $1.75 million.
Each year between 100-150 people attend and raise “an incredible amount of money for the evening.” He estimated they raise over $100,000 each year; this year’s total has not yet been finalized.
Funds are raised through sponsorships, a silent auction and a live auction. “We have some pretty incredible sponsors and donors that have done this,” he said.
The live auction was the highlight, with auctioneer Shad Ridenour leading the bidding wars on the 12 items up for bids. Among the live auction items were a 55-inch Roku TV, afternoon tea for six, six made-from-scratch pies, a Lake Erie fishing excursion, a bird-lovers basket with a book nook birdhouse, Kendra Lent prints, tickets to African Safari Wildlife Park and Toledo Mud Hens, a BGSU planetarium package, dinner with Tony Award winner Shaina Taub and BGSU Musical Arts dean, guest coach for the BGSU women’s volleyball team, an Eddie George-signed football, President’s Suite at a BGSU hockey game and lessons and an airplane ride at the BG Flight Center.
And not to be forgotten, the coveted Sue Shank sugar cookies. Six boxes to be exact.
“It’s like $200 a cookie, so it’s kind of crazy, but really wonderful and a neat thing to watch,” Paskvan said.
“The dollars raised are used to add to the library’s collection and help us maintain a well-above the national average of purchasing of materials,” he said.
“We think it’s important that we allow the community to be able to get access to what they want and not have to wait on long waiting lists. This really helps us out,” he said. “We’re glad that people continue to support us at that level, allowing us to use this money to get materials that really benefit the community.”
Legacy of 1875 Award
During the event, the library’s board of trustees presented the Legacy of 1875 Award to Nadine and Richard Edwards for their selfless service to the community and support of the library and its mission.
The Edwards were recognized for embodying what it means to be not only a library advocate but also dedicated to the greater community.
WCDPL Board President Ken Frisch thanked the couple for their sustained volunteer service, including arranging guest authors for public presentations, recording oral histories of World War II veterans, supporting the library’s 150th anniversary celebration and helping with the library’s 2003 building capital campaign and levy campaigns in 2010, 2014, 2020 and 2026.
They graciously accepted the responsibility to serve as co-chairs of the “Securing Our Future” capital campaign, “to make sure all of our community members have access to the robust public library services,” Frisch said. “The favorite quote of the recipients is: ‘Isn’t it amazing what you can get done when you don’t care who gets the credit.’ Tonight, we are making sure they get the credit.”
“This truly, truly was a team effort, starting with the trustees who had the vision to do the Securing our Future campaign, the foundation board and the staff at the library who are clever, friendly, wonderful, can-do type people. They make the library work,” Nadine Edwards said in accepting the award with Richard. She thanked the committee of Mary Green, Sharon Hanna, Clif and Judy Boutelle, Dianne Klein, Judy Hudson, and library staff members Director Michael Penrod and Director of Development Jessica McClure.
“We would be remiss if we didn’t thank the people of this community and Wood County who support the library,” Nadine Edwards said. “What’s not to like? It’s a gem.”
