McHenry, IL -- August 21, 2023. Nearly $10,000 has been donated by Follett's Content Business to worthy causes and non-profit organizations in the community. The donations were made possible by the proceeds from sales at Edythe's Book Nook, the Follett employee bookstore that opened nine months ago.

Some of the organizations receiving donations include:

• FISH (Friends in Service Here) of McHenry, which operates a local food pantry;
• Communities That Care, a Lake Zurich-based organization that provides key resources to children in need of assistance;
• Turning Point of McHenry County, a Woodstock-based organization offering services to those impacted by domestic violence services;
• McHenry County Conservation District, which preserves open space and provides environmental education programs and resources for the public;
• NAMI Illinois (National Alliance on Mental Illness), which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those affected by mental illness.

Diane Larrabee, longtime director of Communities That Care, noted is it is "truly heartwarming" to experience the type of outreach donors such Follett make to help children in need, in turn showing the kids a community that genuinely cares.

"The impact of the kindness reverberates throughout the underprivileged community giving struggling families hope as they see their children supported through care, concern and wonderful generosity," Larrabee said. "The gifts provided bring a brightness and joy to children during very challenging circumstances and give them memories to cherish for a lifetime."

The Follett employee bookstore is named in honor of Edythe Benepe, who was a journalist for a Chicago newspaper when in 1901 she met and later married C.W. Follett, founder of Follett Corporation. The couple had four sons, all the while Edythe worked full time running one of the Follett bookstores. Edythe is the great-great-grandmother to Britten Follett, CEO of Follett Content Solutions.

"In the early 1900s, it was nearly unheard for a woman to be a mother while also working a job," Britten Follett said. "As the namesake of our new team member bookstore, Edythe would be proud to know we're supporting the important work being done by our important community organizations."

With a mission of making a positive impact on the lives of educators, students and society at large, Follett has a decades-long history of supporting the communities it serves through charitable giving, volunteer efforts, and more. Whether donating books annually to Bernie's Book Bank, partnering with area non-profit organizations during the pandemic to hold a free diaper drive, providing college scholarships to local students, and much more, Follett is committed to giving back.

About Follett's Content Business

Follett Content Solutions is the largest provider of educational materials to PreK-12 libraries, classrooms, learning centers and school districts in the United States, and a major supplier to educational institutions worldwide. Follett distributes textbooks, supplemental books, hands-on learning resources, audiovisual materials and digital resources through Titlewave, the most powerful online collection development and curriculum support tool for school libraries, librarians, and educators. Find Follett on Facebook, and follow on Twitter (@FollettLearning).