As publishers who are dedicated to protecting the right to read, the rise in book bans across the country continues to demand our collective action. This year, Penguin Random House launched the first-ever Banned on the Run 5K. This activity challenge and fundraiser benefitted the Freedom to Read Foundation, an organization affiliated with the American Library Association (ALA) that protects and defends the First Amendment.
Over the course of a three-week period, PRH and Sourcebooks employees collectively raised over $90,000 for the Freedom to Read Foundation. This amount is also likely increase thanks to the PRH Corporate Matching Gifts program. These donations will directly fund the foundation’s efforts to protect the First Amendment through advocacy, litigation, and education.
“At the Freedom to Read Foundation, we are fighting to defend everyone’s freedom to read in the courts,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. “The funds [participants have] raised will help us continue and grow our work.”
The campaign culminated in a 5k run/walk event at the PRH headquarters in Manhattan on April 9th, where PRH CEO Nihar Malaviya congratulated a group of 150 passionate NYC-based employees for their efforts and reiterated our collective commitment to protecting the right to read. After the ceremony, participants took off into Manhattan to run and walk together.
Some other exciting takeaways from the campaign:
• 482 PRH employees participated from 33 different states.
• 4,197 miles were logged in the activity challenge.
• 2,025 individual people donated at an average of $42.