Fremont Bank Foundation Provides Generous Grant to Alameda County Library Foundation for the New Castro Valley Library
Library’s groundbreaking ceremony to occur on April 18th at 3:30 PM
FREMONT, California - April 16, 2008 -Fremont Bank Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Northern California’s Fremont Bank, today announced it has bequeathed a generous $50,000 grant to the Alameda County Library Foundation (ACLF). The grant will benefit The Campaign for the Castro Valley New Library to purchase new computers, books and furniture. The new library will also include a café—to be named after the Fremont Bank Foundation. A ceremony for the groundbreaking of the library will commence on April 18th at 3:30 PM on the new facility site— 3600 Norbridge Avenue.
“Libraries provide a very special place to dream. Books record the past, relate to the present, and provide a vision for the future. Fremont Bank Foundation is delighted to partner with the Alameda County Library Foundation in the creation of the new Castro Valley Library,” says Hattie Hyman Hughes, President, Fremont Bank Foundation. “We encourage others to join us in investing in this outstanding project, representing the vision of a unique community.”
The new Castro Valley Library, due to open in 2009, will replace the current facility, which was built in 1962, with only 10,200 sq. ft. of floor area (including a 3,000 sq. ft. children’s room and a small meeting room) and only 38 parking spaces. State and county funding will pay for the majority of the construction of the new library, estimated at $22.3 million. ACLF is conducting the campaign to raise $3 million for technology, collections and furnishings. Since Castro Valley does not have a city hall, the new library will become the new hub for the community to meet and grow.
“Fremont Bank has been a long-time supporter of the Alameda County Library Foundation and supporting the construction of this new library is very special to us,” adds Hyman Hughes.
The features of the new Castro Valley Library include:
- 34,000 sq. ft. facility on a 2.95-acre county-owned site in downtown Castro Valley
- Space for a 50% larger collection of books, computers, etc.
- Audio/visual collection three times as large as the current facility
- Five times as many public computers, wireless Internet access as the current facility
- Double the size of the children’s area as the current facility
- 145 parking spaces
- Quiet reading areas
- 2,000 sq. ft. community meeting room
- Café, bookstore, outdoor patio
- Multipurpose Education Center, built by the Castro Valley Unified School District
About Fremont Bank
Fremont Bank (www.fremontbank.com) is the leading full-service community bank in Northern California. Founded in 1964, Fremont Bank is one of the oldest independent family owned and managed banks in the region and focuses on personalized service for individuals and businesses. It serves communities through 24 branches and seven additional ATMs throughout the Greater Bay Area. Exceptional client service is the cornerstone of Fremont Bank’s business. Accommodation of customer needs in a friendly, personal atmosphere characterizes the bank’s culture. |
