Scripps Howard Fund Marked 10-Year Literacy Milestone

The campaign celebrated distributing its two-millionth book at an event hosted in Cleveland.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Philanthropy

Isometric editorial illustration of a vertical stack of clean, colorful, textless hardcover books on a pedestal, representing a literacy milestone. — The Scripps Howard Fund marked its 10-year literacy milestone in Cleveland, celebrating the distribution of two million books to students nationwide. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Scripps Howard Fund has officially reached a major milestone by distributing its two-millionth book through its literacy campaign. This celebration commemorated 10 years of providing free reading materials to students across the country.

Why it matters

Access to personal libraries is widely recognized as a primary predictor of long-term academic success. By providing free books, the initiative aims to close the equity gap in educational resources for children.

Since 2016, the initiative has provided 45,000 books to Cleveland youth. Students at participating partner schools receive 10 books annually through two dedicated book fairs.

The players

Scripps Howard Fund

This is a philanthropic organization that supports literacy and journalism initiatives across the United States.

Justin Bibb

He is the Mayor of Cleveland who issued the official proclamation recognizing the literacy campaign.

Stephanie Tubbs Jones School

This local educational facility served as the primary site for the campaign's 10-year anniversary event.

News 5

This media outlet partners with the campaign to solicit donations and facilitate local school book fairs.

The details

The program functions through a partnership between News 5 and Scholastic, utilizing donations from station employees and viewers to fund the distribution. These efforts culminated in an assembly at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones School where local leaders recognized the impact of the long-standing community effort.

The If You Give a Child a Book campaign began its efforts in Cleveland in 2016.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb declared September 23, 2026, as If You Give a Child a Book Day.
The 10-year anniversary celebration took place on September 23, 2026, at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones School.

Market Landscape

This initiative follows the pattern established by the National Center for Education Statistics, which highlights book access as a critical factor in student development. The model demonstrates a shift toward media-backed private philanthropy to bolster public education resources.

Students at partner schools receive 10 free books each academic year, providing a tangible boost to home libraries. Families can track the schedule of upcoming school book fairs to ensure their children participate in the program.

The takeaway

Literacy campaigns often rely on sustainable partnerships between local news organizations and educational publishers to maintain long-term funding. Engaging with such initiatives at the school-board level can help parents identify if their district is eligible for similar book distribution programs.