A donation of $100,000 was given to the Lake County Public Library Foundation in memory of siblings Nancy, Mary, and Nicholas Yakovatz on January 9, 2013.
Nancy, Mary, and Nick were raised in the Indiana Harbor section of East Chicago and spent their lives in Lake County. Mary Yakovatz retired from Inland Steel and Nancy and Nick Yakovatz were retired employees from the Standard Oil Refinery in Whiting. Throughout their lives they were very generous to charitable organizations that helped the handicapped, the terminally ill, abuse victims and gifted children in need of scholarships.
The Lake County Public Library Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization, was established in 1984 to provide a continuing source of income for the library. Since funds are invested, only the annual interest is awarded for library materials; therefore, memorial contributions benefit the library's future indefinitely. It is with generous foresight that this family has chosen the library's Foundation for a memorial donation. The library resources acquired with the memorial gift endorses the mission of the Lake County Public Library and validates that our services are truly appreciated.