American Girl Place: Committed to Children's Reading

December 12, 2008

Opening Benefit Committee Members Nora Daley Conroy, Maggie Conroy, Maureen Dwyer Smith, Gale Gand and Donna La Pietra are joined by Bill Kurtis and "friends" from the American Girl collection.

The smiles on the faces of readers selected from Chicago Public Library branches tell the story of the evening; each went home with an American Girl Doll of their choice, underwritten by Foundation donors.

Chicago Reads Together, the early literacy program of the Chicago Public Library, received a funding and public awareness boost from the grand opening benefit of the new American Girl Place at Water Tower Place, which raised $160,000 in contributions and in-kind support.

American Girl has had a long-standing commitment to children's literacy, and is one of the nation's largest children's book publishers in the U.S. When its first retail store opened on Chicago Avenue in 1998, the Chicago Public Library Foundation was its charitable partner. With the expansion and relocation of the flagship store to Water Tower Place in October, the Chicago Public Library Foundation was once again selected as the beneficiary of the store's Grand Opening benefit.

Junior Benefit Committee Members admire the dessert selection in the American Girl Café.

Event Co-Chairs, Foundation Directors Donna La Pietra and Maureen Dwyer Smith, recruited a benefit committee of mothers who are civic and business leaders in the community and their daughters. With their volunteer commitment, 1,200 adults and children attended the October 3 store opening, which featured food, music, crafts and shopping.

Through the generosity of Foundation donors, more than 100 girls from 49 branch libraries throughout the city and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime evening. Tears of joy flowed from the girls and volunteers alike when Commissioner Mary Dempsey and Library Children's Services staff presented the girls with a certificate to be redeemed that night for the American Girl Doll of their choice. At the end of the evening all guests received a commemorative goody bag with American Girl books, doll clothes and a special doll-size replica of a Chicago Public Library Card.

Three generations enjoyed the fun of the American Girl Place Opening. Shown (from left to right) are Benefit Committee Member Trish Rooney Alden, Ellie Alden, Lucy Bulley, Suzanne Alden, Maureen Dwyer Smith, Sue Rooney and Clare Rooney.

Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey (right) greets Committee Members Lily and Michelle Olson.