The Blue Manatee Literacy Project and Bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, has won the inaugural Indies with Impact prize, sponsored by the Binc Foundation and Penguin Random House. Through the award, PRH "recognizes, supports, and strengthens the connections bookstores have with their neighbors by providing funding for the winner's community-based initiative." Above, at the awards presentation: (l. to r.) Christine Stotz of PRH; Pam French of Binc; Veronica Valerio of PRH; and Jill Burket Ragase and Amanda Kranias, both of Blue Manatee.
The award-winning initiative is the Near-Peer Mentoring program, a partnership between Blue Manatee and the Cincinnati Public Schools under which middle-school-aged mentors provide basic reading instruction and skill development to younger readers. Blue Manatee will supply books to participating students in three to four public elementary and middle schools, and, as the program grows, it will provide other logistical support to students from public schools across Cincinnati.
Jaci Updike, president of sales at PRH, commented: "Supporting independent bookstores is at the heart of the mission of book publishing. Reaching local communities is central to everything we do at Penguin Random House. We are thrilled to congratulate Blue Manatee Literacy Project and Bookstore on receiving this inaugural award and look forward to seeing the success of their initiative."
Pam French, Binc executive director, added: "This unique collaboration with Penguin Random House will give the Blue Manatee Literacy Project and Bookstore funds to build and grow their program working with students in Cincinnati Public Schools. We are grateful for this opportunity to work with Penguin Random House on Indies with Impact, because of how the prize honors, recognizes and supports the vital role bookstores play in their communities."
Amanda Kranias, director of the Blue Manatee Literacy Project and Bookstore, said that the grant will "accelerate the implementation of our Near-Peer mentoring program to a larger group of students, building relationships that boost reading confidence and leadership skills."