Fontana library surges toward completion

The new library at the center of Fontana is surging towards completion, helped by a $5 million contribution from the Lewis Group of Companies and a “Topping Off Ceremony” on May 11 to mark a significant milestone in the construction of the Library. At this event, attendees were invited to sign the ceremonial last steel beam to commemorate the project’s literal “reaching of the sky.”

The library will be named the Lewis Library and Technology Center, recognizing the generous gift announced at the Fontana Mayor’s Gala on March 31.

“The Lewis Group of Companies shares our vision for a healthy and prosperous community – and I mean that in every sense of the word,” said Mayor Mark Nuaimi during his speech at the Gala. “From the development of master planned communities designed to bring families and neighbors together, to their investment in the Healthy Fontana program, the Lewis Group of Companies believes in making Fontana a better place to live.”

“Our motivation to support the Fontana Library project is simple – we strive to better the communities in which we live and do business. As active business and community members in the Fontana region, we feel it is important to give back, and we are particularly interested in supporting outreach programs that enhance education,” said Randall Lewis, executive vice president for the Lewis Operating Corp., a member of the Lewis Group of Companies. “What better way to help enhance the educational opportunities in a community than by helping to build a state-of-the-art library? We are privileged to be able to offer support to this project that will clearly be an invaluable resource for our families, schools and businesses.”

Other Lewis philanthropic efforts in Fontana have included the Ralph M. Lewis Sports Complex, Chaffey College’s Fontana Campus Ralph M. Lewis Center and the Healthy Fontana program.

As one of the nation’s largest privately held real estate development groups, the Lewis Group of Companies has developed more than 1,300 acres of master planned communities in Fontana, and plans to develop an additional 850 acres in the years to come. Already developed communities include Sierra Lakes—with homes surrounding an 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse – Citrus Heights, and Summit Heights. Shady Trails is the company’s newest planned community in Fontana and future projects include The Arboretum and Valley Trails. In addition to these major planned communities, the Lewis Group has also developed more than 1.3 million square feet of commercial space in Fontana featuring many of the nation’s most popular retailers including Costco, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Staples, Ralph’s and Vons.

The Lewis Group’s contribution brings the total for donation commitments to $14.5 million. The “Give Today to Enrich Tomorrow” capital campaign was established by Mayor Nuaimi and the City Council, in partnership with the Fontana Library Foundation and the County of San Bernardino, to raise $20 million for public art, service enhancements and to offset certain construction costs.

Scheduled for opening in spring of 2008, the Lewis Library and Technology Center will be a 93,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art place for people to meet, study, read, attend programs and engage in lifelong learning opportunities. It will feature a children’s storytelling center, a homework center, a literacy center, career center, 330-seat auditorium, 203 public use computer workstations, clock tower, young adult cyber café, coffee bar, and a local history and genealogy room.

“We’re very happy with how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time,” said Kathleen Fariss, director of development, emphasizing that there is still time to help support this life changing project, from adopting a book in a family’s name for $25 to naming the Grand Hall for $500,000. “There is a way for you to join your community and become part of the team that is making this magnificent Library and Resource/Technology Center possible,” reiterated Fariss.

For more information about the Fontana Library Foundation’s efforts please visit www.fontanalibrary.org or contact Kathleen Fariss at 909-350-6586.