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Friends of the Iowa Library

For the Blind and Physically Handicapped

2022 Annual Report

2022 was another very good year for the Friends and patrons of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. We were able to make an $12,000 donation to the Library in 2022. We made our contribution as an undesignated donation in order for the department to get a Federal Match to help the Library even more than our donation could directly. Last year through our board membership match we added 12 new members and 10 first time renewals. And 104 total members.

The Friends promotes the Library and its many valuable services throughout the year. We attend functions such as the Braille Challenge. We give presentations at meetings and conventions such as I-CUB and NFB. We produce a quarterly newsletter. We distribute fliers, magnets, card magnifiers, bookmarks, and signature guides with our logo and contact information on them.

We shepherd the donations we get with great care. 96.1% of the money we receive goes to the Library, while only 3.9% goes to administrative and fundraising costs.

Because we have implemented even thriftier ways to distribute our quarterly newsletter, the percentage of funds needed for administrative expenses shrank from 17% in 2016.

You can help! Here are some of the things you can do:

Become a Friends member for just $20
Buy a $10 Smokey Row gift card and we get $3
Make donations at the Stuff, Etc., Stores around the state in our name and we get 50% of the sale price
Enjoy barbershop Christmas music at the Iowa Department for the Blind each Year for a $10 admission
Buy a Brick from the Chimney of the Iowa Department for the Blind
Ask us to speak at your club or organization
Consider the Friends for donations and memorials
Respond generously to our annual fund-raising drive letter
Volunteer some of your time to help with Friends activities

To learn more about the Friends and what we do, visit our website at www.IAFriendsLibraryfortheBlind.org and read our quarterly newsletters. Through your generous help and support, we can continue to enhance the services the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped offers to its patrons. Thank you!

David Hammel, Treasurer

For the Blind and Physically Handicapped

2021 Annual Report

2021 was another very good year for the Friends and patrons of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. We were able to make an $12,000 donation to the Library in 2021. We made our contribution as an undesignated donation in order for the department to get a Federal Match to help the Library even more than our donation could directly. We also provided T-Shirts for all Braille Challenge participants.

We shepherd the donations we get with great care. 96.4% of the money we receive goes to the Library, while only 3.8% goes to administrative costs.

Because we have implemented even thriftier ways to distribute our quarterly newsletter, the percentage of funds needed for administrative expenses is continuing to shrink from 17% in 2016.

You can help! Here are some of the things you can do:

· Become a Friends member for just $20

· Buy a $10 Smokey Row gift card and we get $3

· Make donations at the Stuff, Etc., Stores around the state in our name
and we get 50% of the sale price

· Enjoy barbershop Christmas music at the Iowa Department for the Blind
each Year for a $10 admission

· Designate the Friends as your charity and we get .5% of your total
purchase price at smile.amazon.com

· Buy a Brick from the Chimney of the Iowa Department for the Blind

· Ask us to speak at your club or organization

· Consider the Friends for donations and memorials

· Respond generously to our annual fund-raising drive letter

· Volunteer some of your time to help with Friends activities

David Hammel, Treasurer