The Book Industry Charitable Foundation's Bank on Booksellers Piggy Bank auction, which was held September 9 through September 15, raised $23,000. Participants placed nearly 4,000 bids throughout the week, with the final winning bids ranging from $25 to $1,505.
Authors, illustrators and celebrities volunteered to transform humble ceramic piggy banks into works of art to raise funds to support the Binc Foundation, which noted that "every single painted, signed, bejeweled, Velcroed, and kintsugied ceramic pig earned vital dollars for booksellers in need. One pig even flew around the world on a trip from Ann Arbor to Australia and back again on his mission to provide a financial safety net for the people working in the book industry."
Kathy Bartson, Binc development director, commented: "We will miss these wonderful little piggy banks not only because they are all so creative, but also because each one represents a community coming together to help one another. They are a beautiful physical manifestation of goodness and kindness."
Binc executive director added: "From authors to illustrators to booksellers to publicists the industry wide support for the auction was astounding and appreciated. I extend my warmest gratitude to everyone for coming together to help booksellers facing a crisis. Book people are the very best people."