FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pottstown Regional Public Library establishes $150,000 endowment through Pottstown Regional Community Foundation
Clayton M. Ryce Endowment was created to support library services in perpetuity; public donations welcome.
POTTSTOWN, Pa. (Jan. 26, 2026) – The Pottstown Regional Public Library (PRPL) has established a $150,000 endowment through the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (PRCF) to provide long-term support for library services and programs. The fund will be known as the Clayton M. Ryce Endowment and will benefit the Pottstown Regional Public Library for generations to come.
The endowment was established with a unanimous vote from the PRPL Board of Directors at the September 30th, 2025, board meeting. On Nov. 18, 2025, the library presented PRCF President David Kraybill with a $150,000 check during PRCF’s annual Charter Dinner at La Massaria at Bella Vista Golf Course in Gilbertsville.
Endowments are designed to provide permanent charitable support. The principal is invested and preserved, while a portion of the investment earnings is distributed annually to support an agreed-upon purpose.
The library’s leadership said the endowment honors the late Clay Ryce and his long service to the library.
“Clay’s dedication to the Library spanned multiple decades and multiple roles, among them: Our Board President, our PRPL Friends President, our volunteer, our confidant, and (above all else) our beloved friend,” the Pottstown Regional Public Library leadership and the family of Clay Ryce said in a statement. “We remember him for his leadership, his kindness, and his pep talks. Clay often commented that we had a responsibility to ensure that our libraries outlived us. It is this noble sentiment that the Clayton M. Ryce Endowment fulfils.”
The endowment is held at the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation, which provides local organizations and donors with a way to build permanent funding for community needs. PRCF is a community foundation, meaning charitable dollars are stewarded locally to support priorities in the greater Pottstown region over time. In addition to individual giving and grantmaking, PRCF can work with organizations, businesses and civic groups that want to establish funds that support local causes.
“Establishing an endowment is a practical way to advance a community institution for the long term,” Kraybill said. “The Clayton M. Ryce Endowment provides permanent support for the Pottstown Regional Public Library, and it gives donors a trusted, local place to direct gifts that stay in this region and work year after year. It is also a model other organizations can follow to build lasting funding for the services their neighbors depend on.”
“The Clay Ryce Endowment secures the future of the library so we can continue to provide not only free access to books and educational materials, but also programming for people of all ages,” Ashley Abbey, PRPL Board Member said. “It is bittersweet knowing we were able to share the namesake with Clay before his passing. His legacy of dedication to the library lives on with this endowment, ensuring our ability to continue serving the community.”
Community members can contribute to the Clayton M. Ryce Endowment to help grow permanent support for the library. Donations may be made through the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation by visiting pottstownfoundation.org and selecting the “Give Local” button, or by going directly to the online donation page HERE. Gifts of any size are accepted.
Donors who prefer to give by mail may send a check made payable to the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation. In the memo line, note “Clayton M. Ryce Endowment,” and mail to: Pottstown Regional Community Foundation, Attn: Clayton M. Ryce Endowment, 152 E. High St., Suite 500, Pottstown, PA 19464.
For questions about donating or creating a fund to support a cause or organization, contact Sheri Waldman, Philanthropy Coordinator, at (610) 323-2006, ext. 23, or SWaldman@pottstownfoundation.org
The Pottstown Regional Public Library is located at 500 E. High St. at the intersection of High and Washington streets in downtown Pottstown. Parking is available on High Street and behind the building, with the entrance off Union Street. The library is accessible by public transit via SEPTA Route 93 and PART routes.
About Pottstown Regional Public Library
Pottstown Regional Public Library works to strengthen its diverse community by providing free and open access to resources that inform, instruct, inspire and promote lifelong learning. The library advances literacy and inspires curiosity in a welcoming, inclusive safe public space. To learn more, visit pottstownregionalpubliclibrary.org
About Pottstown Regional Community Foundation
Pottstown Regional Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization connecting philanthropic intentions with community needs across the greater Pottstown region, supporting health intervention, education innovation, and economic opportunity for all residents. Committed to improving quality of life within a 10-mile radius of Pottstown, PRCF serves as a convener, funder, and steward for sustainable, community-driven solutions. To learn more, visit pottstownfoundation.org.
For Additional Information, Contact:
Samuel Mirarchi
SMirarchi@PottstownFoundation.org
