Publishers Pledge Funds to Binc Foundation

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation has announced that industry’s leading publishers have committed to providing significant financial support to help the organization provide financial assistance to booksellers facing challenges from medical or funeral expenses, loss of household income, domestic violence, and other crises.

On Tuesday, May 23, Binc said that Ann Patchett and James Patterson, the organization’s co-ambassadors, led their respective publishers, HarperCollins and Hachette Book Group, in pledging generous support. They were joined soon after by Penguin Random House, Macmillan Publishers, and Simon & Schuster. Ingram Content Group, a longtime Binc supporter, and its distribution brands, Ingram Publisher Services, Consortium, Perseus Distribution, and PGW, have also pledged significant support.

Receiving backing from these business leaders is a pivotal moment for Binc, as it demonstrates a collective investment in booksellers across the nation, according to Patchett.

“So often in booksellers’ lives a true disaster can be averted by the gift of a couple thousand dollars. It’s a small amount of money that can keep people in their jobs and in their homes. But more than that, Binc brings peace of mind,” she said. “We’re telling the booksellers, ‘We’re there for you. You matter to us.’ By joining the campaign, publishers are saying the same thing. We’re incredibly grateful for this support.”

Patterson stressed the important role booksellers play in improving the lives of the people who frequent their stores.

“Booksellers are essential to fostering a love for reading — one of the most basic and critical skills a person can have,” he said. “Thanks to the financial assistance provided by Binc, there are more booksellers out there hand-selling and carefully curating book recommendations for each person who walks through their doors. They’re doing noble, vital work, and I’m happy to acknowledge their contributions.”

Binc noted that the support, which totals more than $224,000, including annual gifts and multi-year pledges, moves the foundation closer to its goal of raising $500,000 annually to support bookstore employees and owners. Since 1996, Binc has stabilized more than 7,000 households in thousands of communities, and provided higher education and professional development for 724 booksellers.

“Our booksellers give so much to their communities, so it is a privilege for Penguin Random House to give back to them through the Book Industry Charitable Foundation,” said Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle. “This wonderful group has our deepest gratitude for their vital support of booksellers in their time of greatest hardship.”

Brian Murray, president and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers, said, “The people who work as professional booksellers in the nation’s bookstores are critical players in connecting our authors to their readers. By supporting Binc, HarperCollins is proud to be able to play a part in supporting this important community in times of need.”

“We value our association with Binc and its good work on behalf of booksellers,” said Shawn Morin, president and CEO of Ingram Content Group. “We know that our commitment has a direct and positive impact on the community and booksellers. We are very proud to support Binc’s own mission of providing emergency assistance to this important part of our community.”

Noting that the number of grant requests is increasing each year, Binc Executive Director Pam French said, “The Foundation is incredibly grateful for this vital support from our industry’s leaders. We owe so much to our ambassadors and these publishers for bringing us closer to our goal of sustainability and helping booksellers well into the future.”