LET'S GET KIDS SOME BOOKS!
We’re a charity that donates books to kids at underfunded schools and libraries. Did you know that kids are losing access to books?!
Yup! It’s true that:
Youth reading levels are the lowest they’ve ever been. Without access to books, many kids won’t catch up. (source)
35% of schools in the U.S. don’t have librarians (source)
The amount of children that enjoy reading is the lowest it's been in 20 years. (source)
For Back to School Season, I’m asking the nerd community to help me give books to kids who need them in schools across the country.
Nerds know more than anyone else how life-changing books can be. Whether it's manga, comics, a sci-fi novel, or even a Dungeons and Dragons Manual, we all have a book that helped us become who we are. Please make a monetary donation so the next generation can have that opportunity.
WHO WOULD WIN IN A FIGHT. EVERY NERD IN THE UNITED STATES OR THE YOUTH LITERACY CRISIS?!
HELP US BUILD THE NEXT CHAPTER
Last year, the nerd community came together to prove that a shared love of stories can create real change. Our goal was to raise $100,000 to impact 10,000 kids. Instead, we:
Raised $130,000 for literacy initiatives.
Impacted 19,000 children through book donations and school visits.
Served 100% Title I schools.
Delivered over 100 unique titles that helped spark a love for reading.
Proved that nerd culture can be a powerful force for literacy.
YEAR 2 GOALS
This year, we're raising $200,000 to expand Nerds For Literacy farther than ever before.
We want to:
Impact even more kids! Especially ones at the hundreds of schools on our program waiting list.
Bring books to kids in juvenile detention facilities.
Host events with public libraries to make our book drives more accessible.
And last but not least, our STRETCH GOAL!
If we raise $250,000, we will identify a school partner that doesn’t have a library, and build them one from scratch! Shelves, books, technology, everything!
HOW IT WORKS
Kind members of the nerd community make a monetary donation.
At the end of the campaign, a reading list of books will be selected by a combination of donors, literacy education specialists, and the kids!
Books will be purchased in bulk from independent bookstores, with all receipts made public online.
The purchased books will be distributed to kids in under-resourced schools across the country. I will personally travel to each school where a donation is placed to make sure books are delivered and distributed
Every donation helps put books into the hands of children who need them most and creates opportunities for young readers to discover stories that reflect their interests, identities, and imaginations.
Together, we can write an even bigger success story in Year 2! Thank you for helping us make it possible.
TESTIMONIALS
“On behalf of the Eagle Academy Administrative Team and the Eagle Foundation, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for visiting our school today. Our students were genuinely excited to meet you and were extremely happy to receive the books. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to literacy made a meaningful impact on our young men. Experiences like today’s help reinforce the importance of reading while showing our students that reading can be engaging, empowering, and, most importantly, cool.” - Eagle Academy for Young Men
“On behalf of the scholars and staff at Atmosphere Academy, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for your support of our NERDS for Literacy event. Thank you for your generous donation of books to our scholars. Your contribution helped make the event a meaningful and memorable experience while encouraging our students to continue developing a love for reading and learning. We also want to thank you for sharing your personal story with our scholars. Your journey was both powerful and inspirational. The resilience, determination, and passion you demonstrated throughout your story left a lasting impression on our students and staff. Hearing firsthand how literacy, education, and perseverance can shape one's future was truly motivating. We are grateful for the time you spent with us and for investing in the lives of our scholars. Your words and generosity will continue to inspire them long after the event has ended.” - Atmosphere Academy
“We want to sincerely thank you all for this opportunity. You all run a wonderful organization that brings joy to children. An anecdote for you… Several children were walking through the hallways reading their books the day after the event. I had the opportunity to speak to one of them who was already on page 171 of his book. Thank you again and a blessed summer to all!” - PS17
WHO ARE WE?!
My name is Tony Weaver, Jr. I’m a nerdy content creator, as well as the founder of a nonprofit organization called Weird Enough that provides free literacy tools to kids across the country. In the past, I’ve arranged charitable book drives with brands like Crunchyroll, and I’ve also made multiple book donations with my personal funds to get kids reading. In the last 12 months I’ve traveled to over 40 schools helping kids improve their reading and self-esteem. I’m also an award winning children's book author with deep ties to literacy educators and indie booksellers!
WHAT IF I WANT TO HELP BUT CAN’T DONATE?
The power of the nerd community is in its numbers. Donations of any size are appreciated, but it would be a huge help if you shared this initiative with your community. Your friends, discord servers, your favorite streamer. The nerd community is vast. Helping spread the word will be a great support!