Take Note

Members of the grunge-rock band Pearl Jam recently donated $78,000 to support their hometown district, the Seattle public schools.

A foundation that supports the district, the Alliance for Education, launched the Stanford Book Fund last month as a way to let well-wishers show support for Superintendent John Stanford, who is battling leukemia.

Pearl Jam's five members, who have worked behind the scenes on other district projects, matched what was in the fund on April 17. Organizers have raised about $180,000 toward their goal of $500,000, which is about enough money to buy one book for each of...