Library Foundation Appoints President, Board Members; Preps for Women's History Month Celebration

FAIRFIELD, Calif. - Feb. 8, 2018 - PRLog -- The Solano County Library Foundation has elected Dr. Frances L. McCullough as its new president.  Dr. Ash B. Varma, a cardiovascular anesthesiologist and Jan Stevens, former branch manager for the Vacaville and Rio Vista libraries, have been appointed as new board members. The group is gearing up for one of its major annual fundraisers, the "Women's History Month Luncheon," and is currently accepting nominations for its "Woman of the Year" program.  The person chosen will be honored at the luncheon next month.  Nomination forms can be found on the group's website, www.solanolibraryfoundation.org.  The deadline for nominations is February 13^th.  For more information and to purchase tickets for the luncheon visit the website or call 707-421-8075.

"We're very excited about our theme for this year's luncheon," says Dr. McCullough.  "We will honor women who have, and are, fighting all forms of discrimination against women; we hope the community will join us in celebrating the life and work of some of Solano County's most extraordinary women."

Money from this and other foundation fundraisers support library programs that are not funded by tax dollars.  These include "Reach Out and Read," a program where free age-appropriate books are given to families during their child's wellness checkups with their doctor; and "Solano Kids Read," an initiative that provides free books to elementary and middle school children and a chance for the students to meet the people who wrote the books. It also funds Tutor.com, a national program offered through local libraries that gives homework assistance in math, English, and science to high school students.  It funds, too, the library's adult literacy program, an effort where volunteers are trained to teach illiterate adults how to read. Over the last 20 years, the foundation has raised more than 4 million dollars to sustain these programs.

McCullough and the two new board members have extensive backgrounds as advocates for literacy and quality education at all levels.  In addition to her doctorate in education, she holds masters degrees in education administration and leadership and a bachelor's degree in sociology, as well as a California teaching credential and numerous other certifications.  She has been on the foundation's board for more than 10 years and served as the chair of its biggest fundraiser, the Authors Luncheon, last year.

Dr. Varma is a Rotarian and an avid supporter of numerous community ventures, including the foundation's Authors Luncheon, which he has helped sponsor.  He's looking forward to helping the board in the areas of board development, fundraising and public relations.

Stevens, a librarian, worked for the Solano County library system for many years before retiring. She has supported the foundation as a volunteer and helped plan its "Trivia Bee" fundraisers. She was also a columnist for The Reporter news paper and handled media outreach for the libraries she managed.  She will assist the board in the areas of communication and media relations.  The foundation is authorized to have up to 21 board members; currently it has sixteen.

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About the Solano County Library Foundation

The Solano County Library Foundation was founded in 1994 as a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to support the programs of Solano County's eight libraries and the literacy and lifelong learning needs of communities throughout the county.  Since its inception, it has raised more than 4 million dollars to support literacy programs for both children and adults and other needs of the library system that are not funded by federal, state or local dollars. For more information on the group, its activities, events, volunteer and funding needs, please visit www.solanolibraryfoundation.org.