The first major donations to President Barack Obama’s future presidential library are rolling in from New York and Chicago.
The Barack H. Obama Foundation says it’s received four donations of $200 or more since launching in February. All four donations were for more than $100,000, and three exceeded $250,000. That means the foundation has raised at least $850,000, and probably a lot more. The group isn’t disclosing its total.
All four donations came from individuals or couples who have donated heavily to Democrats previously. Three are from donors based in New York. One is from a Chicago hedge fund executive with close ties to Obama’s former chief of staff, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
New York and Chicago are competing vigorously for the library. Hawaii also wants to host the library.