Patterson Grants Awarded to Indies in Australia, N.Z.

James Patterson

This week, James Patterson "made good on his promise" to donate $100,000 (about $72,730) to independent Australian and New Zealand booksellers to help them encourage children to read, the Sydney Morning Herald reported

"I have been delighted by how many people have applied for the grants and the caliber of the applications," said Patterson. "We have worked to identify bookshops for whom this money may make a real difference and for whom getting children reading is a real passion."

Lindfield Bookshop & Children's Bookshop was granted $2,000 (about $1,455) to print and distribute brochures of its favorite 20 children's picture books, fiction and YA titles; to donate some of these selected titles to local schools and offer discounts to parents to purchase. Owner Scott Whitmont, one of the booksellers who met with Patterson on his Australian tour in May, told the Morning Herald: "He is rolling in it because of the number of titles he puts out and, instead of sitting on his wealth, he is supporting independent booksellers because children who read are the future adults who read."

"We're really excited about seeing the grants being used through fantastic projects in local bookshops throughout Australia," said Joel Becker, CEO of the Australian Booksellers Association. "The applications showed tremendous creativity, passion and vision. For the very lucky--and worthy--grant recipients, James Patterson's generous donation will make a real difference to how they reach children and encourage them to read."

Lincoln Gould, CEO of Booksellers New Zealand, commented: "It is fantastic to see how New Zealand bookstores have reacted to this wonderfully generous offer by James Patterson with creative plans that can only encourage children to read. It is inspiring to see one of the oldest bookselling families in the country, Hedleys in Masterton, and one of the newest, the Wards from Wardini Books in Havelock North, among the winners. This alone demonstrates that bookshops in New Zealand are not only well entrenched in this country but are sustainable into the future, playing a vital role in reading development."

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