On January 30, 2020, the Placentia Library Friends Foundation was honored by the Placentia Chamber of Commerce with the award for Not-for-Profit of the year. The award was presented to them at the 55th Annual Excellence in Placentia Gala held at Alta Vista Country Club.
The Placentia Library Friends Foundation (PLFF) is made up of thirteen members, but despite their small size they proved to be a mighty force to reckon with. They were up for the award against much larger organizations: The Placentia Founders Society, Placentia Rotary Club, and the Placentia American Legion, but even so, they took the award home by a show of votes. The community recognized and rewarded PLFF’s hard work and dedication to provide capital, resources and services to the Placentia Library through their fundraising efforts. PLFF is very thankful to everyone who supports them. Without the support of the community, they know they cannot accomplish everything they do.
2019 was an epic year for PLFF. They prospered and triumphed despite facing many obstacles. They endured the year-long closure of the Placentia Library while it underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation, which presented them with fundraising challenges. They were unable to accept book donations during this time, and they could not operate their monthly second Sunday sales. Nonetheless, they still were able to maintain the running of their Friends Bookstore, and while their income was diminished due to lack of foot traffic, they continued to generate revenue for the library. In addition, they planned and executed two major events, their annual author’s luncheon in March and a 1920’s Gatsby themed gala which was held at the Richard Nixon Library in August.
The Placentia Library is a hub of the community that provides vital resources and programs to the city of Placentia, all which are backed by the Placentia Library Friends Foundation. It may have been a rough year for PLFF, but it was also a momentous one, and this award is well deserved and earned by a foundation that is clearly committed to helping and improving the city of Placentia.
Written by: Lisa Pacheco