We are thrilled to announce the Honorary Hosts of Library Lets Loose 2025: Erwin and Phyllis Abrams!
For Erwin and Phyllis, libraries aren’t just buildings filled with books; they are vibrant community hubs, places of discovery, and safe spaces for all ages. Erwin’s love of libraries began at the tender age of three, when his older brother took him to his local library. That sense of awe has lasted over 80 years, and it’s a passion both he and Phyllis continue to nurture.
“My wife and I give in order to preserve that child’s sense of awe, that adult’s resource for research, that senior citizen’s place of quiet and safety,” Erwin says. “We give because strengthening community means strengthening America. And we give because we feel good about building Johnson County.”
For 14 years, Erwin has been an active member and generous contributor to the Johnson County Library Foundation, helping ensure that our libraries remain welcoming spaces where curiosity, learning, and imagination can thrive.
Erwin’s love of reading spans from 20th-century history to contemporary mysteries, with authors like Harlan Coben, David Baldacci, and Daniel Silva always at the top of his list. “I read late into the evening, perched on my favorite couch,” he shares. And while every library in the Johnson County system has its charm, Leawood Pioneer holds a special place in his heart.
This year, Erwin and Phyllis are inviting you to join the celebration at Library Lets Loose 2025! Come see them in person, enjoy the festivities, and support the libraries they cherish so deeply.
Can’t attend? You can still honor them, and help our libraries thrive, by making a gift in their name at jocolibraryfoundation.org/donate.
Don’t miss your chance to celebrate, give back, and have a fantastic evening, because nothing says fun quite like supporting the library you love.
Library Lets Loose: Freedom to Read
Saturday, September 20, 2025
6:30–10 p.m.
Central Resource Library
9875 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212
www.libraryletsloose.org