5 new board members appointed to Houston Public Library Foundation

Houston Mayor John Whitmire appointed five new directors to the Houston Public Library Foundation board, and City Council confirmed the appointments Oct. 22.

At a glance

According to an Oct. 22 news release, the five new directors are:

• Leslie Bacon, senior associate at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright
• Mary Catherine Blanton Jones, senior counsel at investment firm Centaurus Capital
• Mitra Murthy, banker at J.P. Morgan
• Danny Ward, co-founder and president of special events firm Ward & Ames
• F.N. Williams Sr., senior pastor at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

“Their respective expertises and the energy they will bring to the board will help the Foundation continue to support the Houston Public Library as it serves every Houstonian,” board Chair Nicolas A. Jimenez said in the release.

The new board members will serve two-year terms effective immediately, per the release.

About the Foundation

According to its website, the HPL Foundation secures funding and community partnerships for Houston Public Library, which serves approximately 2.3 million residents across 44 locations in the Greater Houston area.

The board of directors is made up of 19 Houston residents, all of whom are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by City Council.

“The Houston Public Library Foundation is vital to the work of the Library,” HPL Director Sandy Gaw said in the release. “The Foundation provides millions of dollars each year to allow us to offer thousands of free programs, events and resources for people of all ages and in all communities.”