Pasadena Nonprofit 20 Million Minds Gives More Students Access to Textbooks

 

Pasadena-based The Michelson 20 Million Minds Foundation led by philanthropist Dr. Gary Michelson forged a partnership with Chicago’s Packback to provide students with affordable textbooks.

The 20 Million Minds, in search of cost-saving measures for students, connected with Packback’s platform which allows students to rent digital textbooks for $5 or less a day.

“We have a fascinating marriage of technology and grassroots activism here that is a solid solution to helping students break through the prohibitive cost of higher education while still providing an entire industry an option to remain relevant,” said Dean Florez, President and CEO of the 20 Million Minds.

The Pasadena foundation will also be working with Packback to deliver open textbooks to students courtesy of OpenStax College, an open textbook initiative out of Rice University that Michelson helped fund.

Michelson’s 20 Million Minds Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing higher education into the digital age through public and private partnerships that increase access, affordability and student success. It is located at 595 E. Colorado Blvd. For more information, visit http://www.20mm.org.

Packback is a Chicago-based education-technology start-up that redefines the textbook industry for students, publishers, and professors. Packback’s vision is to create textbook solutions that work for students today while laying a strong foundation for a digital future. Packback’s catalog of $3 to $5 digital textbook rentals spans more than 2,500 titles from several major participating publishers. Visit http://www.packbackbooks.com to know more.