February 18, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce a donation of $10,000 to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) to help support comic industry retailers and their employees continuing to battle the challenges of the past year and the COVID-19 crisis.
Binc has done an incredible job during the pandemic and related shutdowns in assisting the local comic shops around the country that serve as the lifeblood of the entire industry in connecting publishers to fans. Dynamite stands with the direct market and all the hard-working retailers that are the best advocates of the wonderful medium of comic books. In today's world where so much of popular entertainment spawns from these comics, the retail infrastructure is ever more important. With the persistence of challenging conditions, retailers need all the help they can get.
This follows other extensive efforts from Dynamite going back to March of 2020 to bolster the industry's network of partners and fans through regular deep discounts on product and returnable options across the line of periodicals. Retailers have consistently supported Dynamite through its 15 plus year history, and especially the past year with increased orders, and the publisher strives to keep spreading the love at all times.
"Dynamite has continuously been grateful of the support of our retail partners, and we've been proud to reciprocate that support. At the beginning of the pandemic, we were the first comic publisher to offer linewide returns on all of our titles, and were measured in our release schedule to help retailers," said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite. "While going into the new year, we were hoping that the worst was behind us, but we still have a way to go. We decided to make this donation to Binc to help retailers, as they have shown that they have the knowledge and execution to help retailers, and wanted to show our support for any retailers who need the assistance. We're in this together, and we'll make it through this together, and grow and prosper again."
“Thank you to Dynamite Entertainment for this generous and inspiring gift,” said Binc’s Executive Director Pamela French. “I am continually humbled by the book and comics communities coming together to meet the extraordinary challenges of the pandemic, and we are grateful and proud that in 2020 and now 2021, no person who qualified has been turned away from receiving emergency help with their essential household expenses.”
French continued, "In 2020, Binc distributed $2.9 million to help more than 2,200 bookstores, comic shops and individual store owners and employees. In 8 weeks beginning in late March 2020, Binc distributed more aid than in the prior 8 years combined. We were able to do this thanks to the generosity and commitment of donors throughout the book and comics communities – publishers, comics creators, authors, retailers, readers and more."
“As we celebrate our 25th anniversary year, Binc is committed to continuing to build the Foundation as the safety net for bookstore and comic shop owners and their employees,” French said. “With the support of donors like Dynamite Entertainment, we can meet the ongoing demands of the pandemic and provide help to book and comics people in recovering from everyday emergencies, including unexpected medical or dental needs, the aftermath of natural disasters, and other unforeseen emergencies.”
###
About Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Boys, The Shadow, Red Sonja, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, A Game of Thrones, and more. Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over 3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics properties), such as Vampirella, Pantha, Evil Ernie, Smiley the Psychotic Button, Chastity, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt. In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high-profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Gail Simone, Christopher Priest, Leah Moore, Kevin Smith, David Walker, Vita Ayala, Danny Lore, Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Mark Russell, Brandon Thomas, Amy Chu, Reginald Hudlin, Nancy Collins, David Walker, Steve Orlando, Greg Pak, Jenny Frison, Matt Wagner, and a host of up-and-coming new talent. Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's Project Superpowers - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005, Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011. The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.
About BINC
The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling and comic retailing communities. Established in 1996, the core program provides assistance to bookstore and comic shop owners and their employees who have a demonstrated financial need arising from severe hardship and/or emergency circumstances. Since its inception, the organization has provided over $9 million in financial assistance and scholarships to more than 9000+ families. Support for the Foundation’s programs and services come from all sectors of the book and comic industries. The Book Industry Charitable Foundation’s mission is to strengthen the bookselling and comic retail community through charitable programs that support employees and their families. The Foundation was imagined and built by booksellers and proudly continues to be their safety net. It is our vision to be a caring community of book and comic people. Additional information can be found at http://www.bincfoundation.org.
|
