Books, Cookies & Quilts: Mom's Legacy Honored

This year, I am dedicating my Give for Good Louisville fundraiser to my mom, Frankie Moore - a.k.a. Gan Gan - who passed away nearly a year ago and who we miss every single day. Mom was a lifelong teacher, a constant reader, and someone who believed in the power of learning and sharing knowledge. She made a lasting impact on everyone she met, and one of her favorite ways to connect with others was through books.

For my family, reading was never just a pastime—it was a way of life. Mom instilled in us a deep love of learning and a belief that books open doors to imagination, understanding, and opportunity. Every member of our family is a reader because of her. I know firsthand how crucial public libraries are in cultivating that same love of reading in countless other families. Libraries are where curiosity begins, where futures take shape, and where everyone has access to knowledge and discovery.

My mom was not only a devoted library user—she was also part of the Louisville Free Public Library community in a special way. For years, she worked in our office at the Library Foundation, where she was beloved by staff and colleagues. Many library employees remember her holiday cookies with a smile. Some folks even had the joy of learning from her in a quilting class she taught at the LFPL’s How-To Festival. She had a gift for teaching, for creating, and for sharing.

At LFPL, she was well-known not only for the number of books she checked out, but also for the joy she brought to others along the way. She showed by example that libraries are more than buildings with books—they are vibrant centers of community life. Through her generosity, creativity, and warmth, she demonstrated how one person can enrich the lives of so many.

Supporting the Library Foundation through Give for Good Louisville is my way of honoring her legacy. It is a way to celebrate the woman who gave me my love of reading, and to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to learn, imagine, and grow at the library.

This fundraiser is in memory of Mom, but it is also for every child discovering their first favorite book, every adult finding the resources they need to succeed, and every family building memories around the library. It’s for our whole community, and for the belief that knowledge should always be free and accessible to all.

Thank you for helping me honor Mom’s life and legacy. Thank you for supporting the Library Foundation and the work of our public libraries. And thank you for believing, as she did, in the power of books to change lives.