An Investment in Community
Harvey Lemmen's Story
For Harvey Lemmen, reading has been a lifelong love for the written word. "I have always enjoyed books and reading, all my life," said the 85-year old resident of Grand Rapids. "I started by collecting and reading books on President Abraham Lincoln, which I eventually donated to Grand Valley State University. My passion for books extended itself to history and sciences. I also enjoy crime and mystery novels."
A natural extension of this fervor for books and knowledge was his gift to the Ryerson Library Foundation (RLF). This spring, through the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Lemmen made an annuity gift to the RLF for $10,000. Lemmen commented on his gift, "Public libraries are important cornerstones to a community of learning, and the Ryerson is a beautiful building."
A sense of caring for the city of Grand Rapids motivated Lemmen's decision to provide this gift. "It's important that the Ryerson Library Foundation grows, and that cannot be achieved without gifts," he said. "My contribution is merely a drop in the bucket. Gifts help the library by providing needed income for necessities, be it books, program, upkeep. The return on investment is a community that grows and prospers."
A generous man with an easy laugh, Lemmen's philosophy on philanthropy extends to those less fortunate. A 17-year volunteer for the American Red Cross, he drives patients in need to hospital appointments to major medical centers all over the state of Michigan.
Yet this humble man insists on downplaying the significance of his endowment to the Foundation. "I don't care to be remembered for this gift," he said. "I thought this the other day as I walked through a cemetery, and was struck at the names on the tombstones. What did they leave behind? I don't want my name on a building or a plaque. I just want to be remembered as caring for others."
As for advice to others considering their own contribution, "Gift annuities are worthwhile; any gift to the library is worth the effort, no matter how small."
For information about gift annuities and other plans you can use to make a gift to the Ryerson Library Foundation, contact Marcie Lewis.