Donovan Deakin Endowed Fund

Foundation donors Carolyn Rohrs and Donovan Deakin both grew up in families that loved and used libraries. So when they moved to Seattle in the early 1990s, they naturally began borrowing books and materials from The Seattle Public Library. They were regulars in several neighborhood libraries, eventually settling near the Green Lake and Northgate libraries.

After becoming parents, they found themselves turning to the library even more – cherishing it as a welcoming space where their whole family could explore, learn, and grow together. Donovan died in 2020, and this gift is made in honor of his enduring legacy and deep love for libraries as vital democratic institutions. He believed passionately that democracy cannot function without the free and open access to information that libraries provide. This unrestricted endowment will help ensure all Seattleites can benefit from the gift of libraries