Meijer announces $25,000 donation to Wauwatosa Library

To celebrate the grand opening of a Meijer store in Wauwatosa, the family-owned retailer announced a $25,000 donation to the Wauwatosa Library to build the Meijer Internet Café.

The donation will allow the Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation to purchase technology and necessary furnishings for the creation of a young adult space area, equipped with interactive and educational iPad activities and more, for teenagers.

"The Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation serves more than 50,000 residents, and our goal is to continue to engage young adults with reading and learning in an increasingly digital age," Library Director Mary Murphy said in a statement. "We're proud to partner with Meijer and look forward to offering the youth in Wauwatosa an interactive and educational atmosphere with the new Meijer Internet Café."

A rare contribution

Murphy said it's not often the foundation receives a donation of that size.

"The city funds the library's book budget, the staff, the very, very basic things for the library," she said. "Anything that's extra and beautiful is really entirely dependent on donations."

Located on the far west edge of the children's library, the Internet café will serve as a space for kids to collaborate on projects and conduct research, among other uses, Murphy said.

"The idea is to make it very cool for that age group," she said, adding the area will be clearly noticeable when people walk into the library.

The Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation plans to establish a focus group that includes young adults to help determine the room's design, Murphy said.

The majority of the $25,000 donation will fund the project's construction, but it will also be used to purchase computers, iPads, software and locking mechanisms to secure the equipment.

Giving back

Each year, Meijer donates more than 6 percent of its net profit to charitable organizations, according to a news release. Locally, Meijer is also sponsoring the Tosa Tonight Concert Series this summer and a stage at Tosa Fest this fall. Meijer also supports Tosa Baseball and Fast Pitch Softball.

"Meijer is a family-owned company committed to supporting the communities where our customers and team members live and work," Wauwatosa Meijer Store Director Tom Livernois said. "We are excited to join the Wauwatosa community and partner with the Wauwatosa Library to provide an enhanced learning experience for students and families in the Meijer Internet Café."

The supercenter and grocery store will open near West Burleigh Street and North Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa on Aug. 4. As part of the grand opening, the retailer will feature special promotions and events beginning Aug. 6.

There are currently 219 Meijer locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.