What We Do
Support Our Community
We raise funds to enhance the programs and initiatives available to Gwinnett County residents, going beyond what government funding provides. For instance, we use donations to offer prizes that motivate children to read, ensuring that tax dollars are not used for incentives. Contributions to our Foundation are tax-deductible and play a vital role in benefiting the community. Your support positively impacts the lives of those around us, such as helping to encourage literacy in children, assisting adults in obtaining their High School diplomas, helping previously incarcerated individuals start a business and more!
Gala
Enjoy an evening at the Buford Community Center with cocktails, fine food, and inspiration as we celebrate everything you do for Gwinnett County Public Library! Tickets for our foundation’s Gala are on sale, and this year, our keynote speaker will be Alton Brown!
Author Speaker Series
Each year the Hooper-Renwick Speaker Series showcases acclaimed, best-selling Black authors and local champions of racial equity and healing to foster courageous community conversations. One of the stated objectives of the series is to foster empathy toward and among all of Gwinnett County’s diverse residents.
Positive Impact
Here are a few examples of the positive impact the Foundation has on the Gwinnett County community.
Early Childhood Literacy:
Summer Reading Challenge
How GCPL Foundation helps
To kick off our Summer Reading Challenge, we have Magic Shows all week long, across 15 branches. The goal of this is to make sure kids keep reading over the summer. Studies have shown if kids don’t read over the summer they can lose as much as a grade level.
The Foundation provides prizes, and treats, such as popsicles to encourage children to read more. The more kids read, the more prizes they receive.
What parents are saying about the Summer Reading Challenge
“We love, we absolutely love it. We love every part of it. We go all of the time. We go to multiple locations.”
“It’s a good time for us to bond. Mother-daughter time, or Daddy-daughter time.”
“We absolutely love Gwinnett Libraries summer reading program. It is a wonderful program for children of all ages. My children ask me to come to the library to sign them up every year.”
“I love it I think it gives them great incentives to read over the summer keeps them working on vocabulary.”
Career Online High School:
Jane Mai
Jane Mai’s Story
Jane Mai was born and raised in Vietnam before moving to the U.S. as an adult. She had always dreamed of attending college to study mathematics, but her high school diploma from Vietnam didn’t meet the requirements. With two young daughters at home, Jane faced significant challenges. However, she discovered our Career Online High School program and decided to enroll. Through hard work and dedication, she earned her high school diploma and is now pursuing her studies full-time at Emory University.
“The library opened the door for me. Thank you so much for opening the door for me.”
-Jane Mai
Lifelong Learning:
New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator
What is the New Start Incubator Program?
The New Start Incubator is a 6 month program that provides business education for formerly incarcerated individuals.
It offers:
- In-person classes
- Online coursework
- An experienced community business leader as a Mentor
“I started my business because I wanted to give other people that had gone through the things I had gone through the oppurtunity to have employment and make something of themselves.”
“It’s been amazing… Each class has taught me how to be better at this… The program has literally given me a new start.”
-Johanna Ortiz
Help Make a Difference
Libraries have never been just about books. They’ve been about access to information, inspiration, and amazement. They’re a gateway to a better future- not just for the individual, but for us all.
The Library Foundation supports Gwinnett County Public Library by accepting funds to enrich, NOT replace, traditional tax-based support, allowing Gwinnett County Public Library to enhance the high caliber programs and resources that nurture literacy, the imagination, and lifelong learning.