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Community Support Highlights

April 29, 2022 Enlightenment Award – Mary B. Olenn

Recognizing Mary B. Olenn as PPL’s “friend extraordinaire” and her many significant acts – large and small – over the course of her nearly half a century of association with and service to PPL, the Library proudly presented her with its highest honor – The Enlightenment Award – during its 2022 Savor the Story, the first in-person Gala in our transformed building.

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Mary could not have realized what would become a life-long association when she first walked into the Mt. Pleasant Library – her local neighborhood branch of Providence Public Library – nearly 50 years ago, young children in tow! Thus began her love affair with PPL, one grounded in a firm belief in public libraries as central hubs of education access and as essential to a community’s well-being.
 

Applying her fierce commitment to these beliefs, Mary became a founder of the Mt. Pleasant Friends in 1981, dedicating herself to the mission of the Library and never looking back! Shortly after helping to launch the Mt. Pleasant Friends, she joined PPL’s Board of Trustees in 1982, becoming – at the time – one of only a handful of women to serve the organization in this capacity.  Mary took on a variety of responsibilities on the Board, quickly ascending to the executive committee.  Along the way, she found her true calling – serving in development roles on behalf of the Library, conceiving of and planning a variety of memorable fund- and “friend-raising” ventures

and events.  Recognizing her work in 1995, the Rhode Island Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-RI) honored Mary as PPL’s “Partner in Philanthropy.”
 

Not one to rest on her laurels, Mary led the charge on the Library’s 2000 Capital Campaign to renovate its branches, helped to initiate the PPL Conservator Society, and served as Vice Chair of Institutional Advancement.  In 2001, Mary was once again in the spotlight, this time honored by the YWCA of Rhode Island with its Outstanding Woman in Public Service Award.

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With Mary’s track record and inspirational leadership, it should come as no surprise that she was destined to achieve a significant first in PPL’s history…that of becoming the first woman Chair of the Library’s Board of Trustees, from 2004 – 2006. As Chair, she strove simultaneously to diversify the Board and foster outstanding support for the Library. Notably, she took important steps to ensure PPL’s viability as a self-supporting organization, overseeing the creation of a Foundation funded by the Library’s endowment.

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It is with extreme pride that PPL claims Mary Olenn as an esteemed member of the Library’s family and acknowledges her unmatched contributions and critical roles she has played in ensuring our future.

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2022 PPLGive Day Most Successful To Date 

Sporting the theme “You Are Here,” our 4th annual PPLGive Day (June 14) was our MOST successful to date, raising more than $21,000 for the Library in just 24 hours and engaging our community on every level. Gifts ranged from $2 to $2,000 and the grand total of $21,090 was the most we have ever raised in a single day during a community fundraising event. 


As we have in the past, we were thrilled to donate every dollar raised over $15,000 (evenly distributed) to Tomaquag Museum and the Indigenous Empowerment Network, Providence Roller Derby, and AS220, three incredible local nonprofit organizations creating space for positive change in our state. Also, our PPL Friends hosted the successful return of our PPLGive Day Book Sale, raising over $500 for the Library (prices started at just $1)!

Major Grants Support Program Expansion and Infrastructure 

The Library relies on a vast number of generous funders that contributed nearly $2 million in 2022, including a number of notable grants in support of necessary infrastructure and program expansion from the following:

 

  • Rhode Island Department of Education contributed $483,672 toward PPL’s continued operation of RIFLI (Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative) and RI Tech Hub statewide programs

  • The Champlin Foundation contributed $199,235 to support elevator upgrades and repairs

  • Papito Opportunity Connection contributed $150,000 in support of Programs & Exhibitions and PPL’s effort to advance a community-driven program curation model and provide expanded support and resources to diverse, BIPOC community practitioners to actualize their program ideas

  • The Governor’s Workforce Board (Real Skill for Youth) contributed $99,397 in support of PPL’s Teen Squads

  • The Rhode Island Foundation contributed $50,000 in support of general operations

  • Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund contributed $50,000 for capital/infrastructure improvements

  • Amica Insurance contributed $100,000 over four years toward education programming and operation in PPL’s Workshop

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