MOSES LAKE - Dr. Robert Ruby, of Moses Lake, donated $50,000 toward an endowment fund for the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center this week.

"The museum is just so overwhelmed by the generosity of his gift," said Ann Golden, the MAC's museum curator, in part. "It meant a lot to me to have someone create an endowment to care for our collection."

The endowment's creation is a first-ever for the museum, she noted.

The endowment fund is managed by the Spokane-based Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INCW).

One quarter of the fund will be reinvested, meaning it can grow and create more income in the future.

The remaining 75 percent of the income is to be used by the INCW to allow the museum to preserve and maintain its historical items and artifacts and for indexing purposes, according to information provided by the MAC.

When contacted for comment, Ruby spoke of his love for libraries, reading, museum and plays.

"I'm not athletic," he said. "I would rather read and go through museums and I have been in some plays," he said. "It's my love. That's what I love and that's what I do."

Ruby explained he just wanted to give to people.

"I give money to them, so they can do better," Ruby commented.