Commissioner Thomas J. Evans and his family were honored today by the Nutley Public Library as a result of their continuous dedication to update the library’s children’s section. Along with his son, Andrew, Commissioner Evans achieved the $100,000 milestone for his most recent endowment to the library as a permanent legacy dedicated to his wife, the late Yolanda Perrotta Evans, in celebration of Mother’s Day weekend. 

To date, the Yolanda Perrotta Evans Memorial Fund is the largest amongst the over 30 endowed funds to enhance the library’s offerings, particularly for children. 

“A good portion of the children’s library has been funded by Commissioner Evans,” says Wayne Greenfeder (President of the Library’s Board of Trustees). “Through the generosity of the Evans family, they have immensely contributed to the library’s catalog. The books brought into the library as a result have helped hundreds of children each year.”

“Achieving the $100,000 milestone is something worth talking about to encourage other people to consider donating,” says Evans. “This fund is obviously very personal to me and my family. I would encourage others to donate to keep our library the wonderful place it is.”

The fund started as a promise to Yolanda before she passed to honor and create a legacy out of her love for children. Evans wanted to find a way to maintain her memory. In efforts to find a means that would help all children, as opposed to the scholarships in town that can only assist one child at a time, the idea for fulfilling this promise became clear through the source of the library.

Each book purchased through the endowment will include a sticker on the inside cover that reads, “Purchased for the Children of Nutley through the Yolanda Perrotta Evans Memorial Fund.” The sticker furthers the Evans family goal in spreading the message of appreciation and love for reading and all the adventures one can imagine through storytelling.