Each fall the Idaho Lottery collaboratively partners with the Idaho Commission for Libraries on a campaign to improve early education literacy. In its first three years, through Bucks for Books, the Idaho Lottery has awarded 89 elementary schools a total of $225,000 for new book acquisitions. Click here to learn more
Donate your VIP Club points to any one of the 20 elementary schools across Idaho. 20 points funds one book per school. To donate and see the schools on the list, go to the VIP Club Rewards center and click on “Do Good Donations.”
Here are the 17 schools across Idaho who received a Bucks for Books award in 2024. Check them out below:
Click on one of the schools to be taken to their VIP donation link.
| Central Idaho: Basin Elementary School, Idaho City = $3,000 |
South Central Idaho: Declo Elementary School, Delco = $3,000 Valley Elementary School, Hazelton = $3,000 |
| North Idaho: Lakeside Elementary, Plummer = $3,000 Whitman Elementary, Lewiston = $3,000 Idaho Hill Elementary, Oldtown= $3,000 |
Southwest Idaho: River Valley Elementary, Meridian = $3,000 McMillan Elementary School, Boise = $2,000 |
| East Idaho: Harwood Elementary, Rigby = $3,000 Hazel T. Stuart Elementary, Shelley = $3,000 Rockland School District, Rockland = $3,000 J.R. Simplot Elementary, American Falls = $3,000 Rulon M. Ellis Elementary, Chubbuck = $3,000 Ririe Elementary School, Ririe = $3,000 Paris Elementary School, Paris = $3,000 Temple View Elementary, Idaho Falls = $3,000 Falls Valley, Idaho Falls = $3,000 |
How Bucks for Books Started:
In 2019, the Idaho Lottery learned 28 percent of Idaho elementary schools had a library budget of less than $100 per year for book procurement. In reality, it would take nearly $8,000 every year per school to maintain the library collection students need to succeed. With that in mind, the Idaho Lottery worked with the Idaho Commission for Libraries to start Bucks For Books. Literacy has been a focus of Idaho Governor Brad Little since he took office in 2019. Getting all Idaho students reading at grade level by the third grade is imperative as that is the point where students transition from learning-to-read to reading-to-learn. Having a well-stocked library and the ability for all students to take books home is crucial in getting all Idaho students where they need to be.
How Idaho Public Schools get awards:
We award Bucks for Books awards once a year! Watch for a link here in August to apply to get $1,000 - $3,000 cash awards for your library.
