"Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late..."
- Vladimir in Samuel Becket's Waiting for Godot, used as a silent meditation at C.D. Spangler's memorial service
On July 22, our community and our state lost a champion for public education, for access, and for justice.
Most of us knew C.D. Spangler as a business leader, a generous philanthropist, and past president of the University of North Carolina. At the service celebrating his life, I learned more. Those closest to him shared stories of a humble, intensely curious man who lived with purpose and followed his passions. He repaired antique clocks, rode every subway in Paris, and was a lifelong learner and voracious reader.
I'm inspired by the way Mr. Spangler lived his life. He invested time and resources in affordable, equitable access to education, and our Library is a critical component of the learning landscape he helped to build. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library feeds curiosity and opens doors to opportunity through classes and tutorials on everything from languages to leadership, in person and online, as well as free access to technology and the training to use it.
As we gear up for another busy fall, it's easy to become consumed with planning for Verse & Vino, EpicFest, and the excitement of planning a new Main Library. But it's equally important to remember why we do it: to improve lives and build a stronger community by creating a place where we all can grow, connect, and belong.
And to make time in our own lives for all three.
Thank you for your support of lifelong learning for everyone in every corner of our community,
Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE Executive Director
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