By: Taylor Foote Photo by: Taylor Foote
For the past three years, Milligan has been collecting the spare change as part of the “Million Pennies” campaign” to fund renovations and projects for the P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library.
In March 2010, User Services Librarian Jeff Harbin decided to raise money for the library alongside the school’s “Forward Ever” campaign, which ended in 2011 and totaled $28 million, to show students that they can make a difference in the growth of Milligan College through simple donations.
Contributions were accepted in a clear box at the library’s front desk. The campaign’s goal was $10,000 – one million pennies. Since $10,000 is the lowest donation required to name a room in the library, students could take part in naming a study room in the library if the goal was reached. Harbin said the naming of a room was “something tangible that we could use to attract people to give.”
In addition to funds dropped into the donation box, proceeds from the library’s sponsored book sales over the past three years have also been included into the campaign.
Obviously, the small box could not hold a million pennies, so whenever the collection box was full, Harbin would roll the pennies and exchange them at the bank for a check. The check was deposited into an account within the Business Office.
The donation goal was finally reached on Oct. 25, during the beginning of Homecoming 2013.
Hannah Mays, a senior who is on staff at the library desk, was there to experience the final donation.
“A couple walked in and asked about our box full of pennies one day,” said Mays. “When I had told them that there was less than a hundred dollars needed for donations, they immediately wrote a check for $100.”
Harbin said the man and woman who made the donation were Milligan alumni that had graduated around 35 to 40 years ago, but he left the couple unnamed.
After three years of collection, the library finally reached its predetermined goal and the Milligan community will soon have a chance to vote on the name of a study room on the library’s first floor.
“Early in the spring semester the library staff will produce a list of name of people who have served the library and the
Milligan community, and those who donated can vote on the person they would like to honor with a named study space,” said Harbin.
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