In the Spring of 2021, Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children’s Books donated a combined 50,000 books to the Book Rich Environments (BRE) program via the National Book Foundation. Penguin Random House has supported the BRE program since its inception in 2017.
Over one million new, acclaimed, diverse books have been donated and distributed since the program was launched.
Book Rich Environments is a tri-sector collaboration among non-profit organizations, national government agencies, and corporate publishers that aims to infuse public-housing communities across the country with a vibrant and accessible culture of books. This year, the books donated were distributed to 43 unique participating communities; local community partners including public-housing authorities, public libraries, and local community organizations. These partners reported just how special it was to receive the incredible books we donated. Our partners make sure the books end up in the hands of families in their communities.
Additionally, in 2020 as the Covid crisis heightened, Penguin Random House provided books to the National Book Foundation and the New York Public Library to distribute summer reading kits, directly to NYCHA families. A total of 40,000 summer reading kits were distributed. NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country and the need for resources is always there.
We are proud to have been part of this initiative and provided families living in New York City Housing Authority communities with free books.
