Give Comics Hope Application Period for Comic Shop Assistance is Now Open
Give Comics Hope, the charitable initiative which began its fundraising efforts this past fall has announced the application period opens March 1 and close on March 15 with funds distributed in April. The initiative was created and spearheaded by comic book industry veteran Bill Schanes and designed for all members of our community to rally together to provide vital aid to comic book shops, the heart and roots of our vibrant comic book community.
Give Comics Hope’s charitable efforts have been focused on two auctions and other fundraisers designed to raise the funds to be distributed to comic book stores in early 2021. With the new application dates, this also gives everyone the opportunity to make a donation to Give Comics Hope. The final total raised by Give Comics Hope is still being tabulated as the results from the various fundraisers are still coming in. Depending on how many stores apply and the final amount raised they anticipate the grants will range from $75-$200.
Give Comics Hope has partnered with the Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to assisting comic retailers and booksellers, to oversee the management and disbursement of the funds raised by Give Comics Hope. The initiative will take no organizational fees, and will only deduct any actual, direct costs incurred from the funds raised. Binc will not take any organizational fees from the Give Comics Hope initiative and will cover all direct expenses the Foundation incurs. Since its inception, Binc has provided over $9 million in financial assistance and scholarships to more than 9000+ families. Support for the Foundation’s programs and services comes from all sectors of the book and comic industries. The Foundation was imagined and built by booksellers and proudly continues to be the safety net for booksellers and comic retailers by supporting employees and their families. In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the book and comic industries came together in an extraordinary way allowing Binc to help 2,200 booksellers, comic retailers, and stores with $2.9 million in urgently needed assistance. Help for financial emergencies for booksellers, comic retailers and store owners is available from Binc.
