James Patterson is spreading the wealth, in a bid to improve literacy and the literary field in general, as reported by The Associated Press.
He is donating $5.3 million in total to various programs. The recipients include PEN ($2MM) in order to fight for open expression in literature; Scholastic ($2MM) to launch The United States of Readers program to help fight inequity in literacy; and Howard University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop ($1.3MM) for twelve scholarships and fourteen fellowships.
This is not the first time Patterson has demonstrated philanthropy; he has given more than $100 million to various programs, teachers, school libraries, and independent bookstores.
“I was brought up to give back — so my mother and grandmother should get the praise here,” Patterson said in a statement. “I’ve dedicated my career to getting as many people to love books as possible. I advocate for literacy and schools, fund teacher scholarships, and support other writers, booksellers, and librarians in any way that I can.”
James Patterson is a regular atop all of the bestseller lists. He writes the Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Daniel X, and many other series. He writes with a lot of co-authors, including (but not limited to) Candice Fox, Maxine Paetro, Andrew Gross, Mark Sullivan, and Michael Ledwidge. He has even co-authored a book with Bill Clinton.
In 2015, he received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, he was described as a “passionate campaigner to make books and reading a national priority.”