Four years ago, Columbia resident Cynthia Byrd's life changed forever when her 20-year-old son, Brandon LaVar Byrd, was killed in a car accident. But she and her family have found comfort in raising money for the Richland County Public Library, an organization that her son and her other children, London and Kimberly, have valued. Byrd has reached her goal of raising $17,500 for RCPL, resulting in the meeting room at the St. Andrews Regional Branch and a tree in the Main Library's Children's Room being dedicated to Brandon. The meeting room was dedicated on Saturday, March 12 at the St. Andrews Regional Branch in celebration of Brandon's March 6 birthday.
Byrd raised the money by holding several fundraisers and appealing to family and friends. She quickly reached her first $2,500 goal, allowing a tree in the Children's Room of the Main Library in downtown Columbia to be dedicated to Brandon in October 2008. Her continued efforts to raise the remaining $15,000 now mean the St. Andrews Regional Branch meeting room is dedicated to Brandon.
For the third year in a row, Byrd is also planning the Remembering Brandon LaVar Byrd Through Giving Fashion and Talent Show in August. The event will benefit the RCPL Foundation.
Questions or interested in supporting the efforts of Cynthia Byrd? Call 422-6179 or e-mail rememberingbrandon@yahoo.com.
For more information on RCPL or the RCPL Foundation, visit www.myRCPL.com.
