From a career as a mental health nurse to a volunteer librarian, Patti Casey’s love of reading led her to create a unique fund at the Iosco County Community Foundation (ICCF). Like so many avid readers, Patti loves a good book, has a passion for the written word, and holds a strong desire to foster future generations of readers. As a kid, Patti preferred reading her father’s classics like Tarzan and Man in the Iron Mask over children’s books. When she was old enough, she began to walk to her local library to feed her hunger for reading.

“Libraries are very important to me, and I want to see their importance reinforced,” says Patti. “They are so important for children and young people to learn about things beyond their own world.”

Patti grew up and lived in Flint, Mich. where she worked as a mental health nurse for 30 years with Genesee County Mental Health, and taught mental health nursing at Mott Community College. In their free time, Patti and her husband, Steve, loved to sail, often sailing out of Tawas Bay, falling in love with the area and the community. After retirement, Patti and Steve decided to make Tawas City their home.

Patti quickly got involved in local life. She served on the board of canvassers, on the board of AuSable Valley Community Mental Health, volunteered for the Iosco County Humane Society, and is a member of Christ Episcopal Church. As a lover of books, Patti also began volunteering at the East Tawas Library where she was a charter member and chairperson of Friends of the East Tawas Library, helping to spearhead a capital campaign for its new building. She even became a certified librarian so she could be a substitute when the need arose.

“I had been volunteering at the library, and they were frequently needing substitute librarians, but in order to do that you need a certification,” says Patti. “So I did a three-day library ‘boot camp’, and took online classes through Arizona State University to get my certification.”

Through her work with the library and animal shelter, Patti became familiar with the Iosco County Community Foundation through the funds those organizations started with ICCF. Intrigued by the Foundation’s work, she joined the ICCF board of directors in 2010 and served for 12 years.

“Having helped to create funds at ICCF for the library and animal shelter, I saw the impact those funds can have. I became impressed with the Foundation’s scope and importance to the community,” says Patti. “Then, spending so much time at the library, I recognized the need for continuing education for our library staff, and that there are so many resources and educational opportunities available that weren’t being offered. I knew that I could connect to this cause that is so close to my heart through the Community Foundation.”

So, in 2018, Patti established the Patti Casey Library Science Education Fund at ICCF to support staff members of the Iosco-Arenac District Library in furthering their education, obtaining special certifications, and hoping that some will even go on to obtain a Library Science degree. Because of this Fund, generations of staff who serve the libraries in Iosco County will be able to utilize this fund for professional development in order to better serve the community and enhance the local libraries. For Patti, establishing this fund was also a way to pay it forward.

“I feel blessed that I could financially start a fund like this, and I also feel a responsibility to those in my community to help others. A women’s group supported me with a financial gift when I was in college. It was so helpful, and I will always be grateful,” she says. “I’d like to think I have followed in their footsteps.”

Now that this fund has been established, anyone can contribute in any amount, and at any time, to support library education in Iosco County.