OCT. 29, 2010 -- The St. Louis County Library Foundation is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund. The grant will be used to redesign the children’s room at the library’s Natural Bridge Branch in memory of Jean Weinstock, a former president of the Library’s Board of Trustees and an ardent fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The new children’s area will have an obvious baseball theme, with different colored carpet tiles that form a small baseball diamond on the floor. “Fredbird’s nest” will be a free-standing structure with a puppet theatre for enhanced children’s programming. When not in use for puppet shows, kids and parents can sit inside and read together. A green cloud-like structure will cover the nest, suggesting the tree wherein everybody’s favorite mascot, Fredbird lives. Four computers will be in the room in addition to child-sized, colorful furniture and décor.

A special display will describe the dedication of the late Jean Weinstock, who served on the Library’s Board of Trustees for six years before her untimely death in October 2009. In the display will be Jean’s favorite Cardinals’ cap, which she wore as a season-ticket holder. As many fans do, Jean used the cap to attach souvenir pins of unforgettable events such as the 2006 World Series championship, the 2004 National League Championship, and other Cardinal milestones.

Construction on the new children’s are will begin in October. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the project’s completion, probably in early 2011. The Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63121.

St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund, also known as Cardinals Care, was established in 1997. Each year they donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to help not-for-profit organizations complete special projects that serve kids in the area. Cardinals Care gave the Library Foundation the grant at a grant ceremony on Tuesday, September 28.

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