The Aurora Public Library District and Foundation invite you to Journey into Narnia at the annual Magic of Literacy Dueling Pianos & Auction Party on December 3^rd at the Santori Library, in downtown Aurora.

This year’s silent auction promises to be filled with great items for holiday gift giving and more.  Items such as Chicago Cubs tickets, memberships to the Aurora Imagine Film Society and a Gatlinburg getaway are among the items participants will be bidding on starting on December 1^st when the online auction begins.

The auction event is brought to the community by the APLD Foundation Board of Directors who have been diligently preparing auction baskets for the event.  Bidders will enjoy vying for designer purses by Cole Haan, Mark Jacobs and even Disney’s 50^th Anniversary.  An amazing W. Palm Beach townhouse is up for bid and other basket themes include gardening, Toy Story, family library book collection, and VIP dining package at Rivers Casino-Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House.

According to the Foundation Manager, Laura Stoney, event committee chairpersons, Kelly McCleary and Melissa Rinaldi, bring a wealth of experience to the Foundation Board.  In addition to being friends and co-workers at Wesley United Methodist Preschool, they have worked together on many fundraising projects over the years.

McCleary has been on the Foundation Board for the past 12 years and has led the auction every year.  She has been involved with the Girl Scouts for over 50 years and organized many fundraisers.

Rinaldi has served on the Foundation Board since 2020 and has worked on the auction with McCleary each of those years.  She volunteers at two other libraries and has organized many auctions at the school where they both work.

“Our gratitude goes out to Kelly and Melissa and to all the APLDF Directors. We are very thankful for all they are doing to make possible a new Bookmobile, Mini-Bookmobile, and literacy packets to support vulnerable children,” Stoney said.

 Award Winners Celebrated

The Aurora Public Library District will celebrate the Lifelong Learning Inspiration Award recipients and The Thomas J. Weisner Award for Excellence in Education Collaboration Award winner for 2022.

The annual event will recognize two individuals for their dedication to the library district. Mr. John Savage and Mr. Jeffry Butler have been selected to receive the Lifelong Learning Inspiration Award. The Lifelong Learning Inspiration Award was established in 2016 in honor of Richard and Gina Santori for inspiring all people to become lifelong learners through their own lives.

The APLD will also recognize The Aurora Women’s Empowerment (AWE) Foundation with the Thomas J. Weisner Award.  The Thomas J. Weisner Award for Excellence in Education Collaboration was established in 2018 to honor Thomas J. Weisner, Mayor of Aurora from 2005-2016. Mayor Weisner encouraged collaboration and spent much of his time as mayor working with others to help them reach their full potential. He was also instrumental in bringing a new main library to Aurora.

In addition to honoring the award recipients, the December 3^rd event features a full buffet dinner with carving stations, a selection of salads, vegetable, breads and a sweets table; gluten free options are offered along with an open bar, and entertainment by Ted Oliver Productions.

Proceeds from the event will make possible a new Mini Bookmobile to serve the needs of elderly and homebound residents, a Bookmobile maintenance fund, and literacy packets for vulnerable children in Aurora.

If you would like to be a part of this event, visit www.MagicofLiteracy.givesmart.com for ticket information and details.