Be Like Marge

Marjorie “Marge” Variano

1960 – 2016

Born in Queens, New York in 1960, Marjorie “Marge” Variano was a fiercely independent soul, a talented and fearless athlete, an activist that bucked society’s status quo, and an unconventional but loving mother of three including Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation board member Stephanie Alger.

Help Stephanie celebrate the life of her mom and
be like Marge.

BE LIKE MARGE AND…

support early reading initiatives.

Marge’s lifelong passion for education and literacy was evident in her dedication to young readers. As an elementary school teacher and later a reading specialist, she championed innovative learning approaches to support early literacy. She earned her master’s degree and became a principal within the New York public school system. Long before progressive teaching methods gained widespread acceptance, Marge championed innovative learning approaches. Her final career move, becoming a full-time reading teacher, was a testament to her commitment to help young learners succeed.

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funds one week of tutoring for a student
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provides a week of Storytime
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launches 5 STEM programs for teens

BE LIKE MARGE AND…

expand adult programming.

Marge’s career journey took her beyond education into the world of finance, where she worked as a mortgage processor. This experience highlighted to her the importance of financial literacy. Libraries serve as vital community hubs by offering financial literacy workshops, budgeting classes, and resources. Marge’s later-in-life paragliding passion reflected her desire to keep learning and growing, and she encouraged others to soar with her. Libraries support adults with programming that encourages discovery and exposure to new experiences.

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is the average cost of an e-book on financial literacy
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funds one adult education program
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provides three career counseling sessions

BE LIKE MARGE AND…

drive innovation.

Whether pioneering progressive teaching methods or pursuing her passion for paragliding, innovation was a driving force in Marge’s life. Her dedication to underserved students, including bringing school supplies to children in Colombia, mirrored the kind of impact libraries have through microgrants. Small but powerful grants via the Library Foundation’s Flight Fund enable Library staff to develop creative and impactful programs. Just as Marge pushed boundaries in education, the Library uses microgrants to launch progressive and engaging initiatives to better serve their communities.

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Grant for Unlocking Hope
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Grant for HBCU Fair
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Grant for Generation Exchange program

After moving to Charlotte from California to be closer to her grandchild, she returned to teaching and finally landed her dream job as a full-time reading teacher. Tragically, on Thanksgiving Day 2016, just three days before embarking on this new chapter, she passed away in a paragliding accident in La Cumbre Peak, California.

In celebration of a life lived fully,
be like Marge and give generously.