In the stories below, members of the 1848 Society share why they were inspired to include the Boston Public Library Fund in their long-term financial and estate plans.

Read their stories below:

Angel DeJesus

Angel DeJesus grew up visiting the Roxbury Branch regularly and has kept the Boston Public Library in his life ever since. When deciding to make a career shift from the hospitality industry to commercial real estate, Angel visited the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center for resources and support. The Library has been a constant in Angel’s life, so he has decided to give back by including the BPLF in his will. “I chose to earmark a portion of my estate to provide future support for financial literacy programs at the Library,” he said.

Marlene Kaplan

1848 Society member Marlene Kaplan says that earmarking the North End branch in her will was a logical way for her to extend her support into the future and give back to the neighborhood she loves. She’s excited about the innovative ways the Library staff will use her gift. “I can’t anticipate what’s going to be needed at the branch in the years to come,” she said, “but I trust the BPL to use my gift wisely and consider all the possibilities.”

Julie Wood

Dr. Julie Wood has a passion for children’s literacy. From public school teacher to author, she has found joy in helping children discover their love of reading. Julie joined the BPLF’s 1848 Society when she included the Fund in her estate plans. The gift will be invested in the establishment of the Dr. Julie Wood Children’s Series, which will give young patrons the chance to connect with authors and illustrators.

Sally Portle

Sally Portle became a founding member of the 1848 Society when she decided to provide for the BPL in her estate plan. She was a tour guide at the Central Library for 15 years and has served on the Tour Guide Research Committee. Her love for reading and the Library is apparent to all those who meet her. She has taken advantage of many BPL programs and opportunities throughout her life and has decided to give back to what she calls one of her favorite places in Boston.

Howard Cooper

Dorchester native Howard Cooper grew up in a triple-decker with his large, extended family and visited the Central Library in Copley Square regularly as a teenager in the 1950s. According to family members, the Library was a quiet, safe space for him. Howard named the Boston Public Library Fund (BPLF) in his estate plan, and in 2023, the Fund received the $1,000,000 bequest to expand the Library’s LGBTQ+ resources, collections, and programming. The bequest provides immediate-use funding and, most significantly, establishes The Howard Cooper LGBTQ+ Endowment Fund to provide a long-term funding stream for initiatives and programs.

Kathleen McDermott and Bill Nigreen

Boston residents Kathleen McDermott and Bill Nigreen have long believed that the Boston Public Library (BPL) knows exactly what the city needs to thrive. They recently designated the Boston Public Library Fund as a beneficiary of their IRAs and become members of the 1848 Society. “It’s exciting to think how we can impact Boston’s future through a legacy gift,” says Bill. “When we started thinking long term, we knew that the BPL will help transform Boston for years to come.”