The 8-year-old Bangor girl who decided to donate her birthday money to the Bangor Public Library not only met, but more than doubled her goal amount.

Ingrid Schaefer loves to read, and earlier this year, she wrote a letter that went out with her birthday invitations, asking people to either gift her money for the library or donate in her name. Her story was quickly picked up by various news outlets around Bangor.





Ingrid told potential donors and The Bangor Daily News that she wanted to donate because she loves books and “the library has tons, millions, trillions, really a lot of books.”

As of last week, she had raised $2,277.50. The total bumped her into the next donation “level” so she is able to not only put her name on the donor wall but someone else’s as well. Her mother, Gretchen Schaefer said Ingrid chose her sister Willa.

When the library board of trustees learned about Ingrid’s quest to raise $1,000, the minimum for the donor level that would guarantee her a spot on the donor wall, it agreed to pitch in $500.

A few days before her birthday, Ingrid, a quiet, well-spoken girl with shoulder-length brown hair, was nervous she wouldn’t meet her goal. Her mother gently told her to not worry, she probably would. She was right.

This isn’t the first time Ingrid has donated to the library, and her parents said they regularly encourage both of their girls to give to charities and community efforts. When money and electronics were stolen last year, Ingrid donated money to help replace the items, but this is her biggest effort, and the largest donation by a child in the library’s history.

“She’s heartwarming, so selfless and just a really cool kid,” said Lisa Frazell, marketing director at the library.

The funds, along with those from other donors will help pay for $9 million in renovations and repairs.