On March 9, 2015, James Patterson announced a $1.25 million pledge to strengthen school libraries in partnership with Scholastic Reading Club. Within two weeks, the duo received more than 8,500 applications, prompting a $250,000 boost. By June, applications had swelled to 28,000, and Patterson added another $250,000, bringing the total to $1.75 million.
Scholastic ran the grant application through its network, allocating individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The process also offered teachers Bonus Points for purchasing books and classroom materials. The partnership allowed the donation to be directed to schools that needed books, shelving, repairs, or technology.
American Association of School Librarians reported that 467 libraries finally received grants in 2015. Funding covered new books, reading programs, technology upgrades, and repairs caused by flooding or wear. Even modest grants enabled small schools to replace damaged shelves or add e‑books.
Patterson was later honored with the AASL’s Crystal Apple award for his advocacy. In November 2016, he and Scholastic announced another $1.75 million, helping 452 schools.
For librarian Maya Patel of Lincoln Elementary, the grant restored a two‑story reading nook and bought 200 new titles, sparking a surge in student reading time.