Penguin Random House will donate one million books to Save the Children over the next three years to celebrate 10 years of partnership and to help boost children’s access to books at a time when millions of children are struggling to gain basic literacy skills.
NEW YORK, 3 December 2024 – Penguin Random House will donate one million books to Save the Children over the next three years to celebrate 10 years of partnership and to help boost children’s access to books at a time when millions of children are struggling to gain basic literacy skills.
Since 2014, the publisher has donated over two million books to children and families supported by Save the Children’s programs around the world and has donated funds to support many of the global humanitarian organization’s emergency response efforts.
Penguin Random House is now renewing its commitment by committing to donate a further one million books by 2027, marking the biggest global book donation in Save the Children’s history.
The initiative comes at a time when more than 393 million children globally – or 20 % of the world’s children – do not have basic literacy skills by the age 10, according to ‘The Lost Potential Tracker’ – an interactive tool designed to measure the scale of the global learning crisis.[1][BG1]
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this crisis. Globally, an estimated 70% of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income countries are unable to read a simple text and only 25% of youth are on track to attain the full range of skills needed to thrive in school, work, and life.[2]
Luciana Bonifacio, Chief Development Officer of Save the Children US, said:
"For over 10 years, Penguin Random House has been a committed partner in advancing Save the Children’s global education programs, ensuring all children have access to books, no matter where they live. Our partnership embodies our shared belief that books and literacy ignite children's independent thinking, creativity, and free expression. We are grateful for their steadfast support and generosity.”
With the long-standing support of Penguin Random House’s book donation, Save the Children has implemented a range of programs aimed at fostering literacy and creating community learning environments. These have included programs to ensure children across rural America have access to learning and quality reading materials, indigenous-led literacy initiatives in communities across Canada, reader-friendly spaces at elementary schools in Germany, and community-based learning environments in India that feature rural libraries and activity centers designed for children as a one-stop-shop for literacy, language skills, and cognitive and emotional development.
Claire von Schilling, EVP and Director of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility, Penguin Random House, said:
“Save the Children is a particularly special partnership to Penguin Random House, and to me personally. For more than 10 years, we have worked closely with our local partners on-the-ground to provide life-changing books to children around the world—many of whom are in remote communities that are hard to reach through traditional channels. Here’s to 10 more years of shaping children’s lives through the power of books and reading!”
About Save the Children: Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About Penguin Random House: Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English-German-and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 16,000 new titles, and more than 700 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.
ENDS
Amy Lefevre: Amy.Lefevre@savethechildren.org
Our media out-of-hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409
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