An update on James Patterson's $1.25 million donation to school libraries: due to an "immediate and overwhelming response," Patterson is increasing his donation by $250,000, to $1.5 million. Since the announcement two weeks ago, Patterson and Scholastic have received more than 10,500 grant applications from school libraries for amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The grants have requested funding for everything from new books and better shelves to flood damage repairs. Scholastic is matching Patterson's donation with "bonus points" teachers can use for educational materials.
"I'm blown away by the number of parents and teachers who have shared the urgent needs of their community's school library," Patterson said. "It's clear that our school libraries require critical help. I know we can't solve the issues overnight, but I hope at the very least we're able to raise awareness about the important position the school library plays in the educational achievement of children."
