PEMBROKE — The 12th annual Friends of the Library Benefit, which raises money for college scholarships, will be held Friday.
The benefit is at 5:30 p.m. at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s Mary Livermore Library. Tickets are $50 a person.
Along with dinner, there will be a silent auction with hand-painted flower pots; a weeklong stay at Rumbling Bald in Lake Lure; tickets for two to the Carolina Opry; pottery by local artists; tours of various wineries in North Carolina and South Carolina; gift certificates to various restaurants; golf packages; and hand-crafted items.
“Not only can they donate and support, but they can leave with some stuff they will enjoy,” said Susan Whitt, interim dean of library services at the Mary Livermore Library.
Money raised will support the Friends of the Library initiatives, which include continued support for four scholarships established to assist students at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, funding for popular reading materials and audio books and sponsorship of author appearances and reading programs.
“With cost of college increasing nowadays, we try to raise money and award scholarships to students,” said Robert Fisher, president of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Friends of the Library and the former director of the Robeson County Library. “Last year, in addition to the scholarship recipients, we were able to award six incoming freshmen at UNCP, who were graduates of Robeson County high schools, a laptop computer.”
Whitt said, when choosing a theme and planning the benefit, the 125th anniversary of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke played a major role. The “Celebrate the Spirit of UNCP at the Library” is not only to celebrate the library, but all of the departments of the university.
The benefit will feature speakers Issac Brayboy and Betty Mangum, both UNCP alumni.
Brayboy, who grew up in the Pembroke community, received his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from UNCP and a graduate degree in health and physical education from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Among his writings is his book “Playing Before an Overflow Crowd,” the story of American Indian basketball in Robeson and adjoining counties. It was co-authored with Bruce Barton. He is a member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Mangum is the daughter of the late professor Clifton Oxendine of the university’s History Department. She will share her recollections of growing up in the shadow of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke campus. She is also a UNCP graduate and received her master’s degree from North Carolina Central University. In 2006 she received an award as one of North Carolina’s “Women of Achievement” from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and was honored for her service as an educator and community leader in North Carolina during the past 30 years.
“It will be a really anjoyable night,” Whitt said.
To learn more about the Friends of the Library, how to apply for their scholarships, or to join the Friends of the Library, call the Mary Livermore Library at 910-521-6212 or visit the library’s website at www.uncp.edu/library. For information or to order tickets, call Karen Fritts at 910-775-4242 or Sherry Locklear at 910-775-4170.
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