Book donation project a labor of love for CWU Law and Justice alum

Ever since he was a kid, community service has been a big part of Bryson Fico’s life. He didn’t always love doing it, but he understood the value of helping others.

“My mom made me volunteer every summer for Catholic Charities in Las Vegas, where I grew up,” said Fico, a 2021 CWU Law and Justice graduate. “I wasn’t that into it, but once I got to college, I gained a new appreciation for community service.”

Fico spent his first two years at Skagit Valley College, where he volunteered for the Manufacturing and Innovation Club. He found great satisfaction working with the club, which partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Skagit County to teach children about 3D printing.

“That's where I realized first-hand the importance of volunteering, and that sparked my interest to volunteer in Ellensburg,” he said.

Fico continued following his altruistic side when he transferred to Central in 2019, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, APOYO, and FISH Food Bank. Those experiences planted the seeds for a nonprofit initiative that has given Fico an even greater sense of purpose than his previous forays into volunteerism.

In September 2023, he launched Pages of Redemption, in which he gathers used and unwanted books that he donates to jails around the state.

“Over the first five months, I donated more than 700 books to the Kittitas County Jail,” said Fico, who moved to Eastern Washington from Tacoma earlier this year. “A number of bookstores in Ellensburg donated, and I also found some at Goodwill and through Facebook. That first book donation in Kittitas County really helped get things off the ground, and it’s been building momentum ever since.”

After finding initial success in Ellensburg, Fico continued to build his network on the west side. He partnered with a local Friends of the Library organization to secure additional book donations, leading to agreements with four Puget Sound-area jails: Kent, Des Moines, Enumclaw, and Marysville.

Fico explained that Pages of Redemption’s reach is limited to local and county jails because he hasn’t officially secured “nonprofit” status.

“I would like to donate to prisons someday as well, but I have to complete a few more steps before I can work with the state,” he said.

Either way, the initiative continues to build traction. Fico signed an agreement with the Wenatchee Public Library this summer that will help him rebuild his book inventory. He has also spoken to Washington-based author J.A. Jance, who agreed to donate some of her books.

“She sent me an email and said she liked the work I was doing,” said Fico, who currently works as a judicial assistant in the therapeutic court system. “She told me that when she was on her recent book tour, one of her readers said her books had helped her son while he was in jail. She is hoping they might be able to help other people, too.”

Once he is able to restock his donated book collection, Fico hopes to start pitching his idea to jails east of the mountains this fall. Despite some initial setbacks, he believes he can sell the benefits of his initiative to new partners in the corrections system.

After all, the benefits of the initiative speak for themselves.

“Every donation I make to a jail has the potential to change thousands of lives,” he said. “Those books are going to have an effect on inmates for years to come.”

Pages of Redemption just hit its two-year anniversary this month, and Fico feels like he’s already done a lot of good. But he still has a long way to go.

As for why he chose to dedicate so much time and energy to this specific cause, it all comes back to his motivation for volunteering that he developed as a college student. He genuinely enjoys helping others.

“I believe everyone deserves a second chance and that we’re all capable of change,” he said. “Books allow people to escape to a different world, and they have the power to create positive behavioral change. Maybe these inmates can learn a new trade or a new language? If they can educate themselves while they’re in jail, maybe they will make different decisions once they get out. That’s my main reason for doing this.”

If you would like to learn more about Pages of Redemption, visit the initiative’s Facebook page and send Fico a message.