Novelist and graphic novel writer Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain, Cloven, see "Fantagraphics Gets Stein-Southworth Graphic Novel Series") is leading a drive to recruit authors and comic creators to join him in donating to a pool of matching funds for The Book Industry Charitable Foundation’s Survive to Thrive campaign. Survive to Thrive, seeded by a $500,000 donation from Ingram, $250,000 from Bookshop.Org, and $250,000 from Hachette, Harper Collins, Macmillan, and Penguin Random House is a grant program for booksellers and comic stores to help them get back on their feet after the pandemic (see "Million Dollar Donation Catalyze’s Binc’s ‘Survive to Thrive’"). Creators that donate by 5 p.m. on April 23 will be recognized as part of the matching gift: the hoped-for $1 million in addition donations to bring the total program to $2 million.
Depending on fundraising, grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded by a juried process to up to 200 book and comic stores "…that have been able to adapt throughout the pandemic and have community-minded innovation plans going forward," the organization said.
Applications for retailers will be opened soon and reviews will take place in May, while the fundraising campaign continues. Grants will be announced and awarded in early June.

Retailer Applications in May, Grants in June
Posted by Milton Griepp on April 16, 2021 @ 3:16 am CT

MORE COMICS
'Venom' #252 to Feature Backup Story with New Suit, Plus New Story by DeFalco and Frenz
August 4, 2025
Venom #252 will feature a backup story about Venom’s new suit as well as a backup story by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, the creators of the symbiote suit.
Showbiz Round-Up
August 4, 2025
The post-SDCC showbiz news is still spicy a week after the show's conclusion. It's time for another round-up!
MORE NEWS
New Anime-Style RPG by Two Little Mice
August 4, 2025
Free League Publishing announced Twilight Sword RPG , a new RPG by Two Little Mice.
'Tessen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo'
August 4, 2025
Office Dog previewed Tessen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo, an Legend of the Five Rings board game.