Crains New York - November 12, 2012 - (Page 25)

HELLUVA TOWN INSIDE Donations pour in, post-Sandy Superstorm Sandy is bringing out the spirit of giving in every quarter of New York. On Nov. 12, the New York Islanders are hosting a free open skate at Nassau Coliseum, where the public can enjoy the ice—and make a donation to the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Sandy relief fund. “Hurricane Sandy devastated our local community, and we want to do everything we can to help,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. The Dumbo Improvement District is holding a fundraiser on Nov. 14 at Galapagos Art Space to raise money for arts organizations and businesses in the hard-hit neighborhood. Tickets for the party start at $25. As of last Thursday, 165 had been sold. Alexandria Sica, executive director of the improvement district, said she expects to raise about $15,000. Though every penny helps, it’s just a drop in the bucket. Because of flooding, Ms. Sica estimated, the neighborhood’s businesses and arts groups have sustained around $1.5 million in losses. “I don’t think anyone ever imagined this amount of damage,” she said. “This is the worst thing that has ever happened to our neighborhood.” Events have been popping up on a daily basis. Last week, some 40 Williamsburg restaurants participated in a fundraising night where they gave about 20% of their proceeds to the Red Cross. The Jazz Foundation of America sponsored a benefit concert last Thursday to raise money for jazz musicians who have been affected. Nonprofits are even helping other nonprofits. On Nov. 18, the Queens Museum of Art is hosting a fundraiser to bring in donations for the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance. Celebrities are pitching in as well. Jerry Seinfeld added a Long Island performance on Dec. 19 to his current tour and will donate all the proceeds to relief efforts. He had already pledged to donate the income from his Brooklyn and Staten Island performances. The Brooklyn Recovery Fund, a joint effort between the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the office of the Brooklyn borough president, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, has already raised $1 million and plans to make major grants to nonprofits in Red Hook and Coney Island. “The number of people and companies supporting the fund is growing beyond our expectations,” said a Brooklyn Community Foundation spokeswoman. —miriam kreinin souccar LOCAL HERO: Jerry Seinfeld will donate proceeds of area shows to Sandy relief. Source Cocktail Bob Turner gets hit by Sandy, Barack PAGE 26 Out and About Voices United Choral Festival PAGE 27 T BY THERESA AGOVINO Brooklyn Public Library chief plans to bring institution into the digital age while keeping literacy its core mission Balancing the books he party would have been a blast. A cocktail reception at the oh-so-hip Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg would be followed by dancing and bowling at the Brooklyn Bowl across the street. Yet just like scores of other galas, the fundraiser for the Brooklyn Public Library was postponed because of Sandy. ¶ Still, the nonprofit is forging ahead with a new strategic plan, to be revealed in the coming months, that it hopes will help it reach its goal of increasing the number of cardholders to 50% of the borough’s residents by 2017 as it strives to meet the changing role it plays in society. No longer just a place to borrow books and read newspapers, the library has evolved into more of a social-service agency, where people come to learn computer skills, meet their parole officers and find a job, though literacy remains its core mission. ¶ “The question for us is how we stay relevant when everything around us is changing,” said Linda Johnson, who took the reins as president and chief executive of the 60-branch system just over a year ago. Currently, about 38% of the borough’s residents have a library card, which is roughly the same as in Queens. ¶ The challenges See BALANCING on Page 26 PERCENTAGE of Brooklyn residents with a library card PERCENTAGE the Brooklyn Public Library would like to see with a card by 2017 38% 50% bloomberg news November 12, 2012 | Crain’s New York Business | 25 buck ennis PLANNING AHEAD: Linda Johnson has created a strategic plan to expand the Brooklyn Public Library. http://www.society.No

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - November 12, 2012

THE INSIDER
IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
BUSINESS PEOPLE
CORPORATE LADDER
OPINION
GREG DAVID
REAL ESTATE DEALS
REPORT: HEALTH CARE
THE LIST
CLASSIFIEDS
SMALL BUSINESS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SOURCE LUNCH
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - November 12, 2012