Our Gift to Boston’s Future

Boston residents Kathleen McDermott and Bill Nigreen have long believed that the Boston Public Library (BPL) knows exactly what the city needs to thrive. “When we visit the branches, it’s evident that the BPL values the voices of patrons and is tuned into community needs. We both appreciate this progressive thinking,” says Kathleen.

The couple’s deep involvement with the Library spans decades. Kathleen, an artist and fashion history professor at MassArt, created large paintings of the Bates Reading Room and the Dartmouth Street statues of Art and Science in the 1990s. In 2001 she curated “Fashion à la Mode,” an exhibition highlighting fashion plates from the Rare Books Department. Bill appreciates the social role played by the Library, noting the enduring impact of the Homework Assistance Program. “We see the mission—free to all—in action, happening all around us when we visit.”

Kathleen and Bill recently designed the Boston Public Library Fund as a beneficiary of their IRAs. “It’s exciting to think how we can impact Boston’s future through a legacy gift,” says Bill. “When we started thinking long term, we knew that the BPL will help transform Boston for years to come.”

Asked if he has any advice for others considering supporting the Library in their estate plans, Bill says, “Make a call or fill out an online form. It’s easy!”