The Seattle Post Intelligencer

This story from the Seattle Post Intelligencer highlights the honor Wallace grantee, the Washington Center for the Book, received from best-selling novelist James Patterson. Noting that the “The Washington Center for the Book does what it does better than anyone else submitted for this year’s awards,” Patterson mentioned the national impact of the innovative “Seattle Reads” program which has been emulated in hundreds of cities across the country and internationally.

The awards, funded by the writer directly, honor organizations and individuals who spread the joy and excitement of books across the country. The Wallace Foundation has supported “Seattle Reads” for several years, most recently with a Wallace Excellence Award grant of $1.5 million in 2006. The program in 2007 focuses on Jhumpa Lahiri’s critically acclaimed first novel, The Namesake, and includes an author’s visit, community discussion meetings, reading group toolboxes, film screenings and events for readers of all ages.