April 2, 2019, New York, NY – James Patterson announced today a personal pledge of $1.25 million to save classroom libraries in the fifth installment of his Patterson Partnership with Scholastic Book Clubs, a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company. According to the Kids & Family Reading Report™: Finding Their Story, only one in three kids has access to a classroom library with enough of the types of books they like to read. To help change this problem, 4,000 teachers across the country will be awarded individual grants of $250, matched by 250 Bonus Points from Scholastic Book Clubs, to further assist them in acquiring books and other materials desperately needed in their classrooms. In a new initiative this year, $250,000 will be allocated to 500 “new” teachers with three years of experience or less, who will each receive $500 and 500 bonus points to help fill their bookshelves. The pledge drew a record 127,000 applicants in 2018—more than four times the number received in prior years. Applications are now being accepted through July 31 and winners will be announced in September.

To date, James Patterson has donated $7.25 million to school and classroom libraries through his partnership with Scholastic Book Clubs—this year brings that total to $8.5 million. To learn more about the program, and to apply for a grant, please visit: scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership.

James Patterson said, “Illiteracy—or lack of reading proficiency—is a huge and often daunting issue in this country. In many, many states, more than 40% of students read below grade level. This is a shocking statistic. Tackling this epidemic can be overwhelming for parents and educators alike. But we have to start somewhere. And I think getting books into the hands of children is an excellent place to start. My hope is that my partnership with Scholastic helps teachers fill their classroom bookshelves, and gives their students access to books that they’re excited to read—and ultimately, to foster a lifelong love of reading, as I strongly believe that better readers make better people.”

“We at Scholastic Book Clubs are thrilled to be partnering with James Patterson for the fifth year in a row,” said Judy Newman, President and Reader in Chief of Scholastic Book Clubs. James’ vision of making great books available to all students is perfectly aligned with the work we do every day. The 800,000 classroom teachers who use Scholastic Book Clubs, on behalf of the millions of children they teach, need resources to build classroom libraries filled with books that are well suited to their students’ interests, reading abilities, and imaginations—and provide easy and barrier free access to those titles. I continue to be awed and inspired by James’ generosity and his determination to put ample resources behind the vision of great books—and literacy—for all. We applaud James’ recognition that teachers are critically important in this work and that many teachers—particularly those new to teaching—struggle to find the funds to put books on their classroom library shelves. We stand with teachers who are so grateful for James’ recognition and we are geared up and ready for the tremendous, enthusiastic response we know the 2019 #PattersonPledge with Scholastic Book Clubs will get from tens of thousands of teachers across the country.”

Patterson hopes that teachers and students will share their experiences in their communities using #PattersonPledge. The application process is simple: teachers just need to say in 50 characters or less how they plan on using $250 dollars and 250 Bonus Points to help build their classroom libraries. All teachers in PreK through grade 12 in US schools are eligible to apply for a grant. All funds are being personally donated by James Patterson, and all Bonus Points are being donated by Scholastic Book Clubs.

James Patterson
James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author, best known for his many enduring fictional characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Middle School, I Funny, and Jacky Ha-Ha. Patterson’s writing career is characterized by a single mission: to prove to everyone, from children to adults, that there is no such thing as a person who “doesn’t like to read,” only people who haven’t found the right book. He’s given more than a million books to schoolkids and more than $40 million to support education, and endowed more than five thousand college scholarships for teachers. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family. Learn more at: jamespatterson.com

Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, a leading provider of literacy curriculum, professional services and classroom magazines, and a producer of educational and entertaining children's media. The Company creates and distributes quality books and ebooks, print and technology-based learning programs for pre-K to grade 12 and other products and services that support children's learning and literacy both in school and at home. With 14 international operations and exports to 165 countries, Scholastic makes quality, affordable books available to all children around the world through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail and online. True to its mission of 98 years to encourage the personal and intellectual growth of all children beginning with literacy, the Company has earned a reputation as a trusted partner to educators and families. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

Media Contacts:

Erinn McGrath
Erinn.McGrath@hbgusa.com
Office: 212-364-1181

Allyson Barkan, Scholastic
abarkan@scholastic.com
Office: 212-389-3469