Press Release: The Scripps Howard Fund’s “If You Give a Child a Book…” campaign invests $1.5 million in children’s literacy

Oct 15, 2024
CINCINNATI – The Scripps Howard Fund’s ninth annual “If You Give a Child a Book…” campaign will invest a record $1.5 million in children’s literacy. This year’s campaign will distribute over 260,000 new books to children in low-income schools across the United States.

For every $6 donation, the fund donates a book to a child in need.

The campaign’s main focus is to reach underserved and at-risk children living in poverty. A particular focus is on distributing books to children in kindergarten through third grade when they are still learning to read.

The “If You Give a Child a Book…” campaign is supported by The EW Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) and its employees, the communities it serves and Scripps family members. This year, the campaign also received a donation of 25,000 books from Scholastic, which benefits nonprofit organizations that support children’s literacy.

Through the fund’s partnership with Scholastic, Scripps’ local stations and national networks distribute the free books during book fairs. At the Scholastic Book Fairs, children can choose books to take home. The goal of the fund is to ensure that every student at Title I partner schools receives 10 books each year.

“The number of books in a child’s home is one of the greatest indicators of a child’s success,” said Meredith Delaney, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Fund. “Our goal is to invest in these children year after year – so they can build their own library at home.”

On September 4, the fund announced that it would match that day’s donations, resulting in more than $170,000 being raised from community members in a single day. With funds raised through this year’s campaign, the total number of books distributed since 2016 will exceed 1.5 million.

The Scripps Howard Fund invested more than $8.7 million in 2023 in charitable giving for journalism education, children’s literacy and community giving.

To learn more and donate, visit IfYouGiveABook.com.

Media Contact: Molly Miossi, The EW Scripps Company, 513-977-3713, [email protected]

About the Scripps Howard Fund
The Scripps Howard Fund, a public charity founded by the EW Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), is dedicated to creating informed and engaged communities through journalism education, children’s literacy and local causes. At the intersection of the classroom and the newsroom, the Fund is a leader in supporting journalism through fellowships, internships, minority recruitment and development, and First Amendment causes. The Scripps Howard Awards are considered one of the industry’s highest honors for excellence in journalism. The Fund’s annual literacy campaign, “If You Give a Child a Book…”, has distributed thousands of new books to children in need across the country. The fund works with Scripps brands to raise awareness of local issues and support organizations that build thriving communities. The Scripps Howard Fund manages funds for the Scripps Howard Foundation, a private foundation established in 1962 to support charitable causes important to the EW Scripps Company and the Scripps and Howard families.

Related