PMC's Black History Month Book Drive 2022

Penske Media Corp.’s Black Affinity Group, a collection of individuals focused on connection, collective voice and community service, is excited to announce the launch on Feb. 1 of its second annual Black History Month Book Drive.

 

Throughout the month of February, and as part of its Black History Month initiatives, the Black Affinity Group will be fundraising through Penske Media Corp.’s 2% Foundation (to learn more, click here ) to support underserved schools by supplying books that will broaden and diversify each library’s collection.

The opportunity to engage through education is a high point for all, especially young readers. Yet, across the country, many schools have a lack of resources — or none at all — and are unable to experience these great works.

 

PMC’s Black History Month Book Drive serves as a way to encourage readership while supporting Black authors — who have made a vast contribution to literary history — and purchasing books from small, Black-owned bookstores.

 

Through its 2021 book drive, here’s what the Black Affinity Group accomplished:

 

 

• Raised $58,311, including an internal corporate match

• Purchased 1,140 books through partnerships with four Black-owned bookstores

• Highlighted works of more than 70 Black authors

• Reached 69,975 students across 20 California and New York schools, spanning grades K-12.

 

That translates to roughly one student reached for every dollar raised — and the impact was truly felt.

 

“When I walked into the office this morning, I had no idea that the huge stack of boxes by the front desk contained the titles from our book list. Thank you so much,” Denea McBroom, a teacher from book drive recipient Angeles Mesa Elementary School in Los Angeles, told the Black Affinity Group. “I cannot remember the last time I was as excited to open anything, but looking through all the titles has brought an overwhelming amount of joy. The students will be so excited to share these stories with each other, to read books with characters that look like them and by authors who have brought these moments to life. Representation is so important. Again, I thank you. Angeles Mesa is grateful to you, specifically, and as a part of Penske Media for this invaluable resource library.”

 

Alan Pascale, a former teacher at Southside Academy in Syracuse, N.Y., noted this about his delivery: “We are so grateful for the books. I was in tears the day they arrived, overwhelmed with gratitude. We are using the books for independent reading, literature circles and book talks. A few of my scholars have read four books since the donation, and many of the parents grabbed books to take home and read at our parent-teacher conferences in December. By far, with your donation, it is the best library I’ve ever had in my classroom, and I’ve been teaching for 18 years!”

 

This year, the Black History Month Book Drive aims to double its impact, reaching two students for every dollar raised — and bringing diverse books to as many as 150,000 students in underserved schools. Through the company’s 2% Foundation, all employee donations will be 100% matched, through March 15, 2022.
 

Publishers, bookstores and school recipients will be designated by the Black Affinity Group as recipients of the donations.

 

To help the Black Affinity Group reach its 2022 book drive goal, contributions of any size can be made here. We welcome your support.


(Illustration credit: Tarryn Silver)