Nearly $500,000 investment supports literacy, STEM enrichment, and summer learning for thousands of DPSCD students
A good book can open a door. This week, 43,000 of them did.
Through a partnership spearheaded by the Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation, General Motors, First Book, and Detroit Public Schools Community District came together to deliver 43,000 books to 77 DPSCD elementary, middle, and K-8 schools across Detroit.
Valued at nearly $500,000, the initiative represents one of the largest literacy-focused book donations in recent DPSCD history and positions DPSCD as the sole school district selected for this year’s extraordinary effort.
The initiative was intentionally designed to support literacy engagement, summer learning, and STEM enrichment by expanding student access to books that encourage curiosity, innovation, problem-solving, and exploration. The collections include age-appropriate titles that expose students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while strengthening foundational reading skills and fostering a lifelong love of learning.
What students saw as books arriving at their schools was actually the culmination of a weeklong activation powered by General Motors volunteers, First Book, DPSCD, and the DPSCD Foundation.
Throughout the week, General Motors team members worked alongside district and foundation staff to sort, organize, package, and prepare tens of thousands of books for distribution. The effort required extensive coordination and countless volunteer hours to ensure every participating school received books tailored to its students.
General Motors’ BrightDrop electric delivery vehicles played a key role in powering the distribution effort, helping transport books to schools across the city. The week concluded with deliveries to all 77 participating schools, including featured stops at Marcus Garvey Academy, Academy of the Americas, and Palmer Park Preparatory Academy, where students, educators, and partners came together to celebrate the impact of literacy and learning.
For the DPSCD Foundation, the initiative reflects the organization’s commitment to connecting students with opportunities that expand learning beyond the classroom. By bringing together corporate, nonprofit, and public education partners, the Foundation continues to create experiences and investments that directly support student success.
“Literacy opens the door to every future pathway imaginable, and this initiative is about making sure our students have access to books that inspire imagination, curiosity, and continued learning beyond the classroom,” said Kerrie Mitchell Campbell-Mabins, President and CEO of the Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation. “We are proud to partner with General Motors and First Book on an investment of this scale and deeply grateful for their commitment to Detroit students, literacy, and educational opportunity.”
At General Motors, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to supporting STEAM education and helping prepare the next generation of innovators and leaders.
“At General Motors, we believe investing in young people is one of the most powerful ways to shape a stronger future,” said Kristen Puchek, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship at General Motors. “We’re proud to partner with the Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation and First Book to support Detroit students as part of GM’s broader commitment to advancing STEAM education and empowering the next generation of leaders.”
For First Book, the effort demonstrates what can happen when organizations unite around a shared vision for students.
“An initiative of this scale is only possible when corporate, nonprofit, and public school leaders align with a shared vision for children,” said Kyle Zimmer, President and CEO of First Book. “Together, we are providing beautiful books and resources for students to dream big, explore the exciting opportunities available through STEM, and succeed inside and outside the classroom.”
The impact of the initiative extends far beyond the 43,000 books delivered this week.
“The District appreciates the direct investment in our students by empowering them with greater access to books,” said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District. “We know that regardless of the socio-economic status of any student, books expand and broaden students’ understanding of the greater world around them, narrow the background knowledge and vocabulary gaps between them and more affluent students, and empower students through their own intellectual explorations. The return on investment in books for our youth is limitless.”
Every book delivered this week represents an opportunity. An opportunity to learn. To imagine. To explore. To discover.
And thanks to the collective efforts of General Motors, First Book, DPSCD, and the DPSCD Foundation, 43,000 new opportunities are now waiting on shelves in schools across Detroit.
