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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 10/30/2019

Kathy Bartson
Director of Development
Binc Foundation
734-471-0201
kathy@bincfoundation.org

Evacuations, Wildfires, and Power Outages Affecting Californian Booksellers & Comic Retailers

Ann Arbor — Hundreds of booksellers have been evacuated from their homes due to the wildfires happening in California right now, at least a dozen bookstores are temporarily closed, and more are trying to stay open without power and only a few customers coming through the doors.

How You Can Help Booksellers Right Now

The Book Group (a New York-based literary agency) has just announced a $2000 match to help booksellers affected by the wildfires and power outages. Give today, and your donation will be matched dollar for dollar.
Sign up to become a monthly sustaining donor. Your first month's donation will be matched dollar for dollar.
Email us info@bincfoundation.org to increase your monthly gift.
Spread the word on social media.
If you know a bookseller or comic retailer who may be in need of assistance, please encourage them to contact Binc.

How Binc Can Help Booksellers

If the store has to close or business is so slow (due to evacuations, fires, and/or loss of electricity) that you cannot pay the store rent or utilities, Binc may be able to pay rent and utility expenses on your behalf.
If a bookseller/retailer misses 50% of scheduled weekly work hours, Binc may be able to help with personal household expenses if this missed income causes financial hardship.
If a bookseller/retailer needs to relocate to temporary housing with power for emergency reasons (medical condition, elderly household members, infant, etc.), Binc may be able to help pay for temporary lodging and supplies.

Email Binc at help@bincfoundation.org or call 866.733.9064. Kit, Pam, or Kate will talk you through the possible assistance options.

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling community. Established in 1996, the core program provides assistance to bookstore employees who have a demonstrated financial need arising from severe hardship and/or emergency circumstances. Since its inception, the organization has provided over $6.6 million in financial assistance and scholarships to more than 7,476 families. Support for the Foundation’s programs and services come from all sectors of the book industry. The Book Industry Charitable Foundation’s mission is to strengthen the bookselling community through charitable programs that support employees and their families. The Foundation was imagined and built by booksellers and proudly continues to be their safety net. It is our vision to be a caring community of book people. Additional information can be found at http://www.bincfoundation.org.

The Book Group
The Book Group is a literary agency located in the heart of Manhattan. Since its launch in 2015 by publishing industry veterans Julie Barer, Faye Bender, Brettne Bloom, and Elisabeth Weed, The Book Group's mission has been to seek out and cultivate talented writers, and to serve as their champions throughout their careers. They represent a wide range of distinguished authors, including critically acclaimed and bestselling novelists, celebrated writers of children's literature, and award-winning historians, essayists, memoirists and journalists.