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Jack and Jill of America contributes $35K to President Obama’s presidential library
The collection concluded in 2015 and the Obama Foundation is the recipient of choice
In a private celebration on Thursday, children, family and members of Jack and Jill of America Inc., in Chicago, presented the Obama Foundation with a $35,000 donation to the Barack Obama Presidential Center, Obama’s presidential library in Chicago. Contributors pulled the funds together by collecting pennies, nickels and dimes through the Loose Change Program, which provides children ages 2 to 12 opportunities to help the impoverished.
According to the organization’s official website, Jack and Jill of America Inc. is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, and dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.
“The Mid Western Region was incredibly honored to present this donation that not only honors the first African-American U.S. president, Barack Obama, but makes an impact in a community that needs positive reinforcements and contributions,” mid-western regional director Nadine Gibson told GoodBlackNews.org. “As advocates for childhood literacy, Jack and Jill understands the important role public libraries play in communities.”
On July 27, the yearlong speculation about where the presidential center would go was ended when it was leaked that the president and first lady Michelle Obama selected Jackson Park on the South Side of Chicago as the site.
The other finalist for the library was Washington Park, which is also located on the South Side, but the area has more empty lots and one-third of the area is vacant. It is one of the few presidential libraries built near a predominantly poor and African-American community instead of the downtown area of a city.
The cost of the center, which will become the headquarters of the Obama Foundation and will house presidential archives and a museum, is estimated at $500 million. Tod Williams and Billie Tsien were picked in June as the lead architects for the center, which will have a two-year design process and is expected to be finished in approximately 2021.
“We are excited about this giving opportunity,” said mid-western regional teen president Kellen Love. “Now, each time we visit the library we will know that Jack and Jill helped to make a positive contribution to its development and commitment to the community.”