Fewer Holds, Fuller Calendars: What Your Foundation Gifts Built in FY26

Our library is a place for learning, connection, and community, and much of what makes it that place comes from the generous support of donors to the Cary Library Foundation. Looking back at FY26, the numbers show how much your donation shapes the library's daily life.

It may come as a surprise that municipal taxes do not cover everything the library offers. The library is funded through a partnership between the Town of Lexington and private donors. The Town's appropriation covers the operations: salaries, facility maintenance, and basic infrastructure. Private support pays for much of what goes beyond that base, including many of the materials and programs residents use most.

The Cary Library Foundation FY26 Impact by the Numbers

The Foundation distributed $462,213 to the Library in FY26. In addition to the annual grant and designated annual gifts, over $127,000 went to endowments set aside for specific purposes, $127,500 was invested in capital endowment for future needs, and $110,000 in bequests for general purposes. 

Giving Wisely: Protecting Your Legacy and Supporting What You Love

Join our educational seminar to learn how to integrate charitable giving and legacy planning into your tax planning and estate strategy while supporting causes you love. Sylvia Han, CFA, CFP, a wealth management advisor at Morgan Stanley, and Liz O’Neil, an estate planning attorney, will offer plain-language guidance on trusts, bequests, donor-advised funds, IRA distributions, and more— with time reserved for your questions. A Foundation Legacy Society member will share what led them to include the Library in their plans.

Informational only. No solicitation, no products, no pressure. Free and open to all.

This program is organized and sponsored by the Cary Library Foundation.

Attendance is on a first-come basis. Registering here allows us to plan for headcount and keep you updated in case of any changes.

Cary Library Staff Honored with LexSeeHer Visibility Banners

On August 29, LexSeeHer held its 2026 Women's Visibility Banner Honoree Award Presentation, and two Cary Library staff members were among the women recognized. LexSeeHer, the organization that led the effort to build the Lexington Women's Liberty Monument, has used the banners to make visible the women who have shaped Lexington.

Alissa Lauzon, Assistant Director of Youth Services, and Helen Lui, Programming & Partnerships Manager, were among this year's honorees. Alissa's work includes the accessibility-focused renovation of the Children's Room. Helen's partnership with the Textile Group of the Lexington Zero Waste Collaborative brought mending workshops to the library, among other collaborations and programs.

The presentation followed LexSeeHer's annual reenactment of August 31, 1769, when Anna Harrington gathered 45 women and girls to spin their own yarn in protest of British tariffs.

Please join us in congratulating Alissa, Helen, and all the 2026 honorees.

Lexington Businesses Back Cary Library's Spring Campaign

In addition to individual donors, the Cary Library Foundation also receives sponsorships through its spring campaign from businesses and organizations that support its mission. 

Jessica Carrillo, the Lexington Branch Manager of Rockland Trust Bank, said they chose to become a Platinum Level Institutional Donor because it “provides us with a meaningful opportunity to support the library and the many ways it serves and connects our community. We believe Cary Library plays an important role in providing resources, programs, and opportunities that enrich the lives of individuals and families throughout the community.” One way their investment will be evidenced in the Lexington community is through the Lincoln Field and Parker Meadow StoryWalks® where families can read picture books posted page by page along outdoor trails. Rockland is sponsoring these this winter.

Ms. Carrillo added, “Our continued partnership reflects Rockland Trust’s commitment to investing in the communities we serve. We are proud to support the library’s ongoing efforts and to help ensure that it can continue providing valuable services, programs, and opportunities for the community for years to come. It’s truly a place for all!” 

The Cary Library Foundation is grateful for Rockland Trust and our other sponsors for their partnership and ongoing support. If your organization or business is interested in partnering with or sponsoring the Foundation, please see our list of levels and benefits on our website.

From Our Board

As the calendar officially turns to autumn, the Cary Library Foundation is embracing the busyness that often comes this time of year. We’re specifically looking forward to Giving Wisely: Protecting Your Legacy and Supporting What You Love, an educational session we’re sponsoring on November 2 at 7pm at the Cary Library. This event will share how to integrate charitable giving and legacy planning into your tax planning and estate strategy while supporting causes you love. I hope you’ll join us.

We recently welcomed seven new Foundation Board members, and I’m grateful for the way each has already demonstrated their commitment to our mission and to the Library: Eric Baim, Haegin Chang, Jane Kalinski, Victoria Nessen, Geoffrey Pechinsky, Beth Sager, and Steven Singer. Learn more about them, and the rest of our Board, here. 

Thank you for your support of the Cary Library Foundation! 

Kimberly Hensle Lowrance

President

To learn more about ways to donate to the Cary Library Foundation, visit our website or contact Mary Ann Sorel, our Executive Director, at 781-698-4405.

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