Library drive's in her hands

FUNDRAISING: An additional $20 million is sought for Fontana's 2008 downtown structure.

Article Date: Sunday, September 17, 2006

By Paul Larocco, The Press-Enterprise

INLAND PORTRAIT

Kathleen Fariss

Age: 40

Residence: Rancho Cucamonga

Family: Two sons, ages 13 and 7

Occupation: Development director of a $20 million fundraising campaign for the Fontana Regional Library, which is expected to open in 2008

FONTANA - The nerve center for one of the region's more ambitious fundraising campaigns is a cramped cubicle lined with wipe boards, taking temporary space amongst Fontana's Code Enforcement staff.

It may not be much, but it doesn't have to be, since making plans to raise $20 million for the city's 2008 downtown library has mainly been the work of one person.

With the aid of a secretary and two interns, library Development Director Kathleen Fariss is in charge of overseeing numerous nonprofit committees and the hundreds of volunteers combing the Inland Empire to find donors for the 93,000-square-foot center that's been called the downtown's savior.

"Welcome to Fontana," Fariss said, recalling her feeling when she took the job late last year. "Here's the pool. Start swimming."

Construction for the library, which broke ground last winter, is estimated to cost $60 million over the next two years. That money has been obtained through grants, but officials would like to raise the additional money to boost amenities, including a large technology center, auditorium and coffee bar.

By the time the library opens in 2008, Fariss and her staff hope to have found hundreds of donors, ranging from children who donate $25 to dedicate a book, to the one who coughs up more than $1 million to have the library named after him.

Although the $20 million goal is lofty, Fariss left her job as the business development manager at UC Riverside Extension last November to find she was the staff in charge of it.

"It was like, 'You need a database and you need a Web site and, oh, by the way, you're responsible for all of that,' " Fariss said recently from her cubicle, which incidentally sits inside Fontana's current library building on Emerald Street. "It was a huge leap for me."

But with the help of several city employees taking time from their normal responsibilities, Fariss was able to set up a system. It includes a state nonprofit foundation and multiple committees for city employees, and volunteers.

It's something she's handling skillfully, said her boss.

"She's a great multitasker," said Redevelopment Director Ray Bragg.

"And she has to be, dealing with a foundation and executive committee, a setting committee and her staff. It's a daunting challenge she's measuring up to."

Fariss first worked with Bragg and Fontana to bring UCR Extension classes to the city, and Bragg said he noticed her talents.

She was then asked to help with the city's NASCAR RaceFest, coordinating 100 volunteers downtown.

"That was the final piece of the puzzle," Bragg said.

While still attending the University of La Verne in pursuit of her master's degree, Fariss is handling such responsibilities as launching a fundraising Web site and overseeing marketing interns who have written business plans on how to solicit help from local schools.

"As an intern, a lot of times you're doing mindless tasks," said Shannon Barnash, a Cal Poly Pomona senior working part-time on the fundraising campaign. "But Kathleen actually gave me something to do."

Engaging people, as Fariss explains, is also something she wants to do while seeking donations.

"You have to cultivate relationships," she said. "You cannot walk up to someone and say, 'Please support my campaign. Now give me some money.' "

Kathleen Fariss, a former UCR Business Development Manager, is heading a fundraising campaign for the Fontana Regional Library.