(Hilo, Hawaiʻi) — Thanks to the foresight and generosity of Joseph and Florence Maney, students and faculty at University of Hawaiʻi Hilo will benefit from enhanced academic offerings at the Edwin H. Mookini Library. Through the Florence Maney Trust, an endowed gift of $667,170 will be paying out a monthly distribution to support the library in perpetuity. These funds will go towards the acquisition of books, periodicals, online databases and other additions to its collections.
"This gift will provide us with the resources to enhance our collections and benefit everyone visiting the library," said Dr. Linda Golian-Lui, University Librarian.
During World War II, New York natives Florence and Joe Maney moved to Honolulu to work as nurses at Queen's Hospital. However, their callings lay in different areas and they both left nursing to pursue other careers. From 1945 - 1947 Florence attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and completed her B. A. She continued at UH Mānoa, obtained her M.A. and then taught English Literature courses at her alma mater. Joe worked for the Labor Department of the State of Hawaiʻi. After they retired they moved to Vermont until they returned to Hawaiʻi, and ultimately settled in Hilo.
Books of all varieties were of interest to both Florence and Joe. Joe was especially fond of mysteries and science fiction and Florence enjoyed the arts and literature of the world.
In addition to their enduring gift to the UH Hilo Library System, the Maneys were also supporters of UH Hilo's visiting lecturers.
"We are very grateful for the Maney's generosity and their investment in the Edwin H. Mookini Library," said Rose Tseng, Chancellor UH Hilo. "A quality library is essential to a quality education and their gift will help the library maintain its services while meeting the increasing campus and public needs."
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The University of Hawaiʻi Hilo is a comprehensive university with 36 bachelors degree programs, six masters programs and two doctoral programs. UH Hilo strives to integrate culture and science, offer hands-on learning opportunities to its students and use the Island of Hawaiʻi as a natural learning laboratory. Enrollment has doubled since 1980 to nearly 4,000 students coming from all 50 states and 40 countries. www.uhh.hawaii.edu
The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is to unite donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawaiʻi and our future generations www.uhfoundation.org.
