Third Graders to the Library: Recent scholastic studies have shown a significant decrease in the number of children dropping out of High School when students have a high level of reading comprehension by the time they reach the Third Grade. KRL collaborates with various schools within Kitsap County to bridge the school with the Kitsap Regional Library. All students are given a bag containing a paperback book, bookmark, and pencil.

A gift of $8.10 provides one student with a paperback book, bookmark, pencil and a lunch.

Summer Reading Program: There are approximately 5,000 readers who complete the program each summer. Each child who completes the program is given a paperback book and entered into a drawing for various gift certificates donated by Kitsap County Businesses and service organizations. 25,000 children have completed the summer reading program over the past eight years.

A gift of $150 provides books for 25 children in our summer reading program!

Meet the Author Program: One of the great joys of reading a great book is the ability to meet the author and have the opportunity to discuss the book with them. KRL has been working with West Sound Reads and various booksellers to create this program successfully for the past year.

We have also established “One Book” for Kitsap County, which encourages the entire community to read the same book, discuss its meaning at a variety of venues and incorporate live theater and movies into the discussion process. 2008’s “One Book” program included Harper Lee’s classic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” We are anxiously waiting to hear what the 2009 “One Book” will be??

A gift of $1,000 would bring 2 authors to Kitsap County and include the venue, print materials, etc.

Baby you were Born to Read: Collaboration between Harrison Hospital, United Way of Kitsap County and the Kitsap Regional Library provides a finger play book and babies first library card to every baby born at Harrison hospital.

Dinner with an Author Series: The Kitsap Regional Library Foundation hosts dinners and events with authors ranging from romance writer Debbie Macomber to true crime writer Gregg Olsen to children's author George Shannon. These are only three of many nationally known authors who have signed up to come talk to you at this series of KRL Foundation fund-raising events.

Current list of Dinner With An Author events.

For more information please contact: Executive Director, Peter Raffa at 360-475-9039

There are several ways you can make a donation to The Kitsap Regional Library Foundation. Gifts of any size are appreciated. We will keep your personal and financial information completely confidential.

• Credit Card - Secure online donation!
• Phone - Call us at 360-475-9039.
• Mail - Download and print the donation form and send it with your check or credit card information to:
  The Kitsap Regional Library Foundation
  1301 Sylvan Way
  Bremerton, WA 98310
• Fax - Download and print the donation form and fax it to 360-405-9156
• Stock - To make gifts of stock, please contact the Foundation at 360-475-9039.

Download a PDF of the donation form.

To download this form, Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed on your computer. If you do not have this program already installed, you can download it for free from Adobe's Web site.

Public funds aren’t enough to meet the needs of our Library system. Library circulation continues to increase along with participation in programs and demand for services. At the same time, public funding for Library operations decreased.

Your gift to The Kitsap Regional Library Foundation provides funds for the books, materials, and programs that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Here’s how some of the donations were put to work:

• Gifts to the Library Foundation support early literacy activities for pre-school children, homework help services for students, book groups for seniors and free programs by leading authors and artists.
• The Library was able to purchase additional items for the collections thanks to our donors.

As our population changes and grows, the demand for more books, materials, and programs continues. That’s why your donation large or small is so important.
Donate now and make a difference.

Your contribution preserves - and enhances - one of Kitsap's greatest community resources. The Foundation's fundraising efforts focus on three key areas: collections, programs, and facilities.

The Collection Fund

• Current fiction and non-fiction for children and adults
• Literary classics from all periods
• Large-print books
• DVDs, videos, audiotapes, and CDs
• Homework and reference support
• World Languages

The Program Fund

• Third Graders to the Library
• Children and Teens – High-quality professional programs, including storytelling, art, summer reading and music, that develop critical listening, language, and comprehension skills
• Meet the Author Programs

The Building Fund
This fund supplements the Libraries facilities-on-going maintenance, landscaping, furniture, etc.

To learn more about these funds, please contact the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation 360-475-9039.

A planned gift to a charitable organization like The Kitsap Regional Library Foundation allows you to create a legacy for your community while meeting your own financial and personal objectives. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to:

• Reduce income, gift, and estate taxes
• Secure a source of cash flow for the rest of your life
• Reduce or eliminate capital gains taxes

Wills and Living Trusts
Charitable bequests are made through wills or revocable living trusts and are a popular way to support an organization. Bequests are simple to arrange, offer flexibility, and can reduce estate taxes.

Life Income Plans
There are a number of ways to donate cash, securities, or other property and arrange lifetime payments for yourself or loved ones. Benefits include a current income tax deduction, as well as other possible tax advantages.

Retirement Plan Assets
In many cases, donating some or all of the assets from your IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement plan is a smart option. Gifts can be made during your lifetime or upon death.

Other Planned Gift Options
The Foundation welcomes contributions of a variety of types of assets such as securities, life insurance, U.S. savings bonds, annuity contracts, tangible personal property, and works of art. In addition, gifts can be structured in many different ways.

For more information
From time to time, planned giving seminars are hosted by the Foundation free of charge. Presenters are specialists in this area. To learn more about the benefits of planned giving, attend a seminar, or establish a planned gift, please contact our Executive Director at 360-475-9039.