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Making a Difference: Robert “Bobby” Ellis
Not long ago, in the quiet aisles of Green Valley Library, teen services librarian Jessica Sullenberger and a handful of teens had a wish: to create a Teen Lounge inside the library. All they needed was the cash, so they entered the Pepsi Refresh Challenge for a chance to win a $25,000 grant. While the library ranked 158th out of 1096 in the challenge, an amazing feat in itself, they fell short of winning the grant.
Upon hearing this news, local philanthropist and business-owner Robert “Bobby” Ellis came in with a rather unexpected assist, donating $25,000 of his own money to the cause. “This is the future generation that will run this country, and if they have a place to go, it’s great for them,” said Ellis, president and CEO of Snap Towing.
Through his generosity, Ellis all but guaranteed they’d have that place, along with great things to go inside. When finished, the Teen Lounge will double the space available for teen studying and socializing, and be filled with furniture, computer equipment, art, electronics, a video game library and a high-interest, non-fiction book collection. That’s a fairy-tale ending we can sink our teeth into. For information on the Teen Lounge, visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 492-6581.
