Commemorating the legacy of the company’s late President & CEO,
S&S supports bookstore/comic shop grant program
On the first anniversary of her death, Simon & Schuster announced a gift to the Survive to Thrive grant program in honor of long-time President & CEO Carolyn Reidy. Reidy was an early supporter of Binc as the Foundation grew beyond its origins serving Borders employees exclusively. This generous gift in Reidy’s name will help Survive to Thrive reach its $2 million fundraising goal. The grant program has raised more than $1,055,000 over the last 6 weeks.
Those inspired to join in making a gift to Survive to Thrive in Reidy’s honor, can donate here: https://bit.ly/3nuTRMu
“Carolyn had a deep appreciation for the important role that bookstores and booksellers play in the careers of authors and the success of publishers,” said her husband, Stephen Reidy. “She was also keenly aware of just how precarious a life it can be to own a bookstore or work as a bookseller, and thus was always pleased to support Binc. I am delighted that Simon & Schuster and Binc are honoring her through this memorial donation, and hope that it will inspire others to contribute to this vitally important organization.”
“Carolyn believed deeply in the importance of independent booksellers and worked assiduously to improve Simon & Schuster’s effectiveness in providing service and information to these essential accounts. Simon & Schuster remains committed to helping independent booksellers thrive,” said Jonathan Karp, President and CEO of Simon & Schuster.
Named Publishers Weekly Person of the Year in 2017, Reidy had been with Simon & Schuster for 28 years, serving as President and CEO since 2008. Friends and colleagues repeatedly describe her as brilliant, forceful and warm. She was posthumously honored with the National Book Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. She had an extraordinary tenure at S&S, leading the organization through challenging times and a rapidly changing business environment.
“Carolyn was a true friend to the Foundation and a champion of the industry,” said Pamela French, Binc’s executive director. “Thank you to the team at Simon & Schuster and to the Reidy family for allowing us to be a part of Carolyn’s legacy of supporting and advocating for the book community.”
Survive to Thrive will make grants of up to $10,000 to selected independent bookstores and comic shops. Applications are being reviewed by a panel of industry experts looking for stores with strong fundamentals and a commitment to serving their communities who can use the grants to accelerate recovery from the financial harm caused by the pandemic and seem poised for long-term success.