A major U.S. publisher's charity book giveaway has doubled its initial goal after a massive public response. Penguin Random House's #GiveABook Campaign hit 100,000 donations in three days. #GiveABook reached the 50,000-book starting goal on its first day, Giving Tuesday.
Since 2014, Penguin Random House has conducted an annual charity campaign designed to get books into the hands of children who need them. The first two #GiveABook events saw "more than 85,000 books [donated] to children in need across the country."
Through a partnership with First Book, Penguin Random House aimed to donate 50,000 books in 2016, by having interested individuals submit their zip codes online. For each zip code, the #GiveABook campaign donated five titles to a local community in need. The response was so overwhelming, however, that Penguin Random House doubled the donation goal to 100,000 books, which it gave away within three days of Giving Tuesday.
To further extend its charitable endeavor, Penguin Random House will triple all donations made to First Book through Dec. 31. Throughout the year, First Book can provide one book to a child in need for every $3 the organization receives in donated funds. In December 2016, Penguin Random House will donate two additional titles with each volume First Book gives, up to 500,000 books.
For more information on how you can promote literacy and reading, check out Penguin Random House's list of suggested charities to support this year.
Image: sarahlostbutfound/Instagram
