The Milford Elks Lodge #1589 recently awarded the Friends of the Milford Library a $2,000 check that will benefit the library’s Children’s Department. From left: Amy Bringardner, Friends of the Milford Library Spotlight Grant liaison; Sarah Muoio, Milford Elks grants coordinator; Anthony Muoio, Milford Elks community ambassador; Suzanne Harrison-Thomas, librarian in the Milford Public Library Children’s Department; and Pam Pilla, president of the Friends of the Milford Library. Photo courtesy of the Milford Elks.
The Milford Elks Lodge #1589 recently awarded the Friends of the Milford Library a $2,000 check to benefit the Children’s Department as part of the Elks National Foundation’s Spotlight Grant. Originally intended to fund an Imagination Library program with the Children’s Department, the funds have instead been donated directly to the Friends of the Milford Library due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant money has been earmarked for a special project of FOML: an outdoor patio off of the renovated Children’s Department. The donation will help create an outdoor family space for reading and programs.
Ron Fontaine, a Librarian himself and an officer at the Milford Elks Lodge #1589, was among those responsible for planning the Spotlight Grant program.
“While it’s unfortunate that we’re unable to use the funds as we initially intended, our lodge is happy to see that they’ll still be used to support a wonderful cause within our Milford community. This is the first time we’ve worked with the MPL, but the start of what we know will be a long-term relationship that collaboratively supports the youth of our community,” he said.
Among those present to accept the Spotlight Grant donation was Pam Pilla, president of the Friends of the Milford Library.
“On behalf of the Friends of the Milford Library, we truly appreciate the donation from the Elks Lodge. The donation to the Friends will be used to support the Children’s Department of the Milford Public Library, which ultimately benefits all the families of Milford. We look forward to partnering with the Elks Lodge in the future,” she said.
The 2019-2020 grant year was the first the Elks National Foundation offered the Spotlight Grant. Available to every lodge in the country, the $2,000 grant funds create an opportunity for lodges to shine a light on two critical issues facing nearly every American community: family literacy and homelessness among veterans. As the current pandemic is likely to intensify these issues, the Elks National Foundation has released another $3.7 million in Spotlight Grants for the 2020-2021 grant year.