JPL’s summer learning program engages thousands of children each year during the summer to help them retain their educational progress through the break. We generously receive funding from the Friends of the Library each year, but the need for additional funding for more and better entertainment, more and better prizes to motivate kids to read, and other enhancements is great. Soliciting donations is not a core skill of library staff, or a regular library practice.

In its second year, the campaign name was changed from "Hi $5 for Kids" to "Hi $5 for Reading," opening the field to all ages. The JPL Foundation set goals and created contest rules that would allow individuals and branches the chance to compete against one another for bragging rights and a pizza party. JPL created and printed materials stamped with the "Hi $5" hand logo for branches to track and promote their progress.

Every $5 given helps offset the cost for one child to participate in the program. With the fun and competitive environment, more staff members were motivated to collect donations and over $9,500 was raised in the branches. That was supplemented by another $1,200 online, another $80 per month via 16 recurring monthly gifts online and finally a $10,000 gift from a corporate sponsor for the 2017 campaign.