Penguin Random House Marks a Decade of Supporting Save the Children with Global Book Donations

Penguin Random House celebrates 10 years of partnership with Save the Children, donating millions of books to promote global literacy and education.

on Dec 03, 2024

Penguin Random House Book Donation | Frontlist

Penguin Random House celebrates a decade of collaboration with Save the Children by launching an extraordinary global industry to contribute one million books. Since 2014, Penguin Random House has contributed over two million books to children and families interested in Save the Children’s programs and assisted various global emergency reactions of the humanitarian organization. The publisher is reaffirming its commitment by providing children with 1M more books over the next three years. This commitment to improve worldwide access to books represents the most extensive book donation in the history of Save the Children.

On today's Giving Tuesday - the tenth anniversary of our collaboration, Penguin Random House - buyers of books at penguinrandomhouse.com between now and December 10 will result in a $1 donation to Save the Children, which will be up to ten thousand dollars at most.

Furthermore, the publisher has created a particular unlimited matching gifts program for its employees to celebrate a decade of successful teamwork. Combined, these efforts will lead to a $20,000 contribution to Save the Children’s early education initiatives to foster the next generation of readers and promote literacy in rural America.

The urgency for children’s literacy programs and book accessibility has never been more critical. Currently, nearly 400 million children of primary school age can’t read or write, and over half of all three to six-year-olds don’t have access to preschool.

It is estimated that about 25 million children, mostly girls, will never go to school in their entire lives. The pandemic situation added to this awful scenario, and even with the schools in operation again, 70% of 10-year-olds in the poor countries are still not able to read. Climate change related along with other issues are also putting education at risk, which in turn, over the years, affects over 40 million children annually. Now, only 25% of young people are anticipated to learn the necessary skills which will make their education and subsequently, their future lives successful.

Penguin Random House, who has repeatedly proved to be our biggest supporter over the past ten or more years in assisting Save the Children's international educational efforts, makes sure that all children can access books no matter where they are located,” said Luciana Bonifacio, Chief Development Officer of Save the Children US. “ As partners, we see eye to eye about reminders that books and literacy are means for children to develop their own facts of worldliness, creativity, and free expression of ideas. We are impressed by their trust and generous contributions,” she remarked.

Penguin Random House has a long history of helping Save the Children through book donations, enabling the community to run various effective programs concentrated on improving literacy and setting community learning spaces.

Together, these initiatives strive to pave the way for a brighter future for children in the U.S. and globally. The effects of the extensive book donation have been profoundly felt by children, program staff, and school leaders within their communities. Alok Singh, District Program Officer in Chittorgarh, India, expressed, “We are grateful for the book donation, which will significantly aid in nurturing children’s imagination and creativity.” A local parent from North Carolina also noted, “Your kindness has deeply resonated with us and is generating positive changes within our community, truly impacting the lives of many.”

Claire von Schilling, EVP and Director of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility at Penguin Random House, said, “The partnership with Save the Children is important to us at Penguin Random House and me personally. Over the past decade, we have united closely with our local partners to deliver transformative books to children around the globe, many of whom live in hard-to-reach remote areas. Here’s to another ten years of impacting children’s lives through the magic of books and reading!”

Save the Children is dedicated to closing the global education gap by investing in schools, teachers, and communities, ensuring every child has access to high-quality education. The global humanitarian organization helps establish safe and engaging preschool environments, supplies books and educational materials to families and schools, and partners with governments to improve literacy initiatives. In the U.S., their focus lies on supporting children in rural regions, where resources are limited, helping them achieve essential reading milestones, and cultivating a love for learning because every child deserves the chance to flourish.