The Foundation contributed $12,000 to underwrite the first year of occupancy for the new York Street Branch Library in the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center at 639 York Street. This pledge was possible due to a $44,000 Illinois First grant it successfully sought and received.

In 2003, the Foundation helped underwrite the limited edition printing of the historical book Quincy: A Pictorial History by Carl Landrum.  All proceeds go to the Mary Weems Barton/Quincy Public Library Foundation.

The Foundation was instrumental to the success of two recent grant applications.  In 2004, the Foundation was awarded a $75,000 Matching Grant from the Marion Gardner Jackson Trust Fund for the expansion of the Quincy Public Library campus.  In 2005, the Foundation received a $200,000 Federal Grant from Senator Dick Durbin for the expansion of the Quincy Historical Newspaper Archive.