Microsoft Cofounder Donates $20 Million
to Seattle Public Library
Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen has donated $20 million to the Seattle Public Library, earmarking $15 million for books and other materials and $5 million to go toward building a children’s center in the new central library, slated to open in 2003. Along with an earlier gift of $2.5 million, the donation, announced August 29, makes the Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation the largest contributor to the library’s capital campaign.
Two years ago, Bill and Melinda Gates gave $20 million to the Seattle Public Library Foundation. “It’s absolutely incredible,” said Terry Collings, the foundation’s executive director. “What are the odds of having two of the wealthiest families in the world live in your community with both families totally committed to books and reading and libraries? We are so lucky and so blessed!”
In 1998, Seattle voters passed a $196.4-million bond measure to upgrade the city’s 109-year-old library system with new facilities, technology, and books. The foundation is raising money from private sources to augment the bond.
Posted September 4, 2000.
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