EMPL Foundation

About the Foundation

The EMPL Foundation is a Pennsylvania 501(c)3 non-profit organization corporation and donations to it are deductible for Income Tax, Federal Estate Tax, and Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax purposes. The Foundation was formed to support the Eastern Monroe Public Library enterprise.

The Foundation supplements the money provided by the Library tax. It provides funds annually for children’s books, reference materials, facility improvements, and other financially necessary requirements. The assets of the Foundation are invested with professional fund managers who work for several different financial institutions; all under the direction of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. They include ESSA Asset Management and Trust Services, Morgan Stanley, and Wealth Strategies and Management LLC.

If you are interested in providing long term support to our library system, CLICK HERE to review the Foundation Gift Acceptance Policy, and see the many ways in which you can donate. If you have any questions, you may reach the EMPL Foundation President, Barbara Keiser by mail at: EMPL Foundation, 1002 North 9th Street, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, 18360.

Remembering EMPL Foundation Donors

Gustave and Karen Larsen
Karen and Gustave Larsen moved to their Cherry Valley farm outside of Stroudsburg, PA in 1948. On their farm, which was known as “Whispering Hills”, they opened Larsen’s Antiques, which remained in business until Karen’s retirement in 2007.

In a letter to the Foundation, the Larsen’s lawyer, Mr. William Cassebaum, recounted the numerous discussions he had with the Gustave and Karen about the disposition of their property after they passed away. He mentioned that the one constant in their discussion was that they wanted the property, or the proceeds from the property, to benefit the public. They desired that the children of Monroe County should primarily benefit from their estate, which led to the Monroe County Library being selected as the main beneficiary.

Upon her passing in December 2008, the EMPL became the primary beneficiary of Karen Larsen’s residuary estate, to be held in Trust for the benefit of the Eastern Monroe Public Library (formerly the Monroe County Library). The Foundation received over $400,000 from the Larsen estate.

The will provides that income from the invested funds be used primarily to purchase books, equipment, and other materials for the children’s collection; specifically, to enhance and supplement the normal resources to provide children with the best possible selection. The will also stipulated that the funds may be needed for the general materials collection of the library if funds were not required for the children’s collection.

Gustave and Karen Larsen would be pleased to know that the EMPL Foundation has fulfilled their wishes. The Foundation has been able to provide funding annually while at the same time ensuring that their funds have been faithfully and successfully managed in accordance with their wishes to provide a permanent source of funds for the library.

Donate Now to the EMPL Foundation

If you would like to make an immediate donation to the EMPL Foundation, you can do so using our PayPal account. Click on the DONATE NOW button below and enter the required information from your credit or debit card.