The Bil Keane family has generously donated $50,000 to support the new Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum facility (formerly the Cartoon Research Library). With the matching grant from Jean Shulz, the total impact of the donation will be $100,000.
Bil is the creator of The Family Circus. His son Jeff Keane assists his father in creating the cartoon as well as serving as President of the National Cartoonists Society.
“We are grateful for the Keane Family’s support of the library in general and of this renovation project in particular. Their generous gift brings us even closer to meeting the total Schulz Challenge of $2.5 million,” said Lucy Shelton Caswell, curator of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.
The Sullivant Hall renovation is estimated to cost $20.6 million and will be completed in 2013, at which time Sullivant Hall will house both the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum and The Ohio State University Department of Dance. Upon completion of the Schulz Challenge, the Sullivant Hall renovation will be completely funded.
The Cartoon Library and Museum is the world’s largest collection of cartoon art and comics material. The new, permanent home in Sullivant Hall will expand its space from its current 6,808 square feet to more than 40,000 gross square feet.
Donations are still welcome. To donate, you can click the red “Give Now” button at the top of The Daily Cartoonist.