Gifts in Action - The Bienieckis

MEET THE BIENIECKIS

Henry Bieniecki, a University of Illinois engineering graduate,  has established a generous endowment fund in loving memory of his late wife, “Kay” (pictured here). “Kay” Bieniecki earned a degree in education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1955 and completed some graduate work at the University of Illinois, UCLA, and the University of Mexico City. She taught junior high school for 22 years in the Granite City School District and the memorial fund established in her name will forever honor her commitment to the education of children.

HOW THEY GAVE

The Mary Kathryn Bieniecki Memorial Endowment Fund will benefit the School Collection of literature for children and young adults. This collection is located in the Education and Social Science Library.

WHY THEY GAVE

“My wife loved books and libraries,” explained Mr. Bieniecki. “She was also a teacher and a gift to the Library that benefits children is an appropriate tribute to her memory.”

THE SCHOOL COLLECTION

The School Collection is one of the most comprehensive collections of children and young adults’ literature in the nation, second only to the Library of Congress. It contains more than 132,000 volumes, including fiction and nonfiction materials in beginning-to-read books, children’s classics, folk literature and mythology, biography, modern fantasy and picture books. Special highlights of the collection include Aesop’s fables, alphabet books, pop-up books and Newbery and Caldecott medal winners.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“This marvelous gift establishes an endowment that will provide permanent support for the children and young adults’ literature collection,” said Nancy O’Brien, education and social science librarian. “It will allow our library to purchase materials that would otherwise be beyond our means...Not only will our students benefit from this gift, but the generations of students they teach when they become educators will benefit as well.”