ANN ARBOR, MI–The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation is celebrating 30 years as the only nonprofit in the country dedicated to assisting book and comic people in their greatest time of need. In those years more than 12,000 store employees and owners have been helped with over $14 million in assistance. In addition, 1,070 scholarships were awarded and 950+ mental health referrals were made.
“The foundation has been there during the headline-grabbing national tragedies like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the COVID pandemic as well as for the day-to-day crises that can shake the foundation of a household or a store,” said Binc CEO Pam French. “It’s about book people caring for book people and we’re proud to celebrate this community.”
To celebrate and ensure Binc’s longevity for the next 30 years, an anniversary gala will take place in May at the Prince George Ballroom in New York City. Thirty percent of the net proceeds from the gala will be used to build an endowment, allowing Binc to continue providing life-changing support for store owners and employees at a time when their work has become increasingly challenging.
The gala features Sourcebooks CEO Dominique Raccah as honorary chair and best-selling author and co-owner of NYC’s Books Are Magic Emma Straub as emcee. Binc’s author ambassadors Amor Towles and Ann Patchett will be honored, and George Mrkonic will receive the Founders Award and Marco Davanzo the Unsung Hero Award.
Thanks to the event sponsors and honorary hosts that recognize books matter, bookstores matter, booksellers matter—and Binc matters, because it ensures that the people who make these spaces possible are supported when it’s needed most. Book and comic people need your help now more than ever; please consider donating in recognition of Binc’s 30 years.
To hear from the book and comic people helped by Binc sign up for the monthly newsletter.