Hello Friends!
Tony Weaver Jr.
Tony Weaver Jr. from Weird Enough Productions here, and today I’m writing to you with so much gratitude.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with incredible educators and librarians who are on the front lines of getting books into the hands of young people. On March 13, we joined the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California in San Francisco, where we had meaningful conversations about what students are reading, what they need, and how programs like Nerds For Literacy can support the work already happening in libraries.
Just a few days later, on March 19 and 20, we were in Grand Rapids for the Michigan Library Association conference. Being in rooms like this is always special. These are the people who make sure stories actually reach kids, who advocate for access, and who continue to show up even when resources are limited. Getting to share what we’ve been building with Nerds For Literacy and hear directly from librarians about their needs continues to shape how we move forward.
As we continue this journey, we’re already looking ahead to our next stops. We’ll be heading to New York and we're looking with educators in the area to connect with!
Thank you for being part of this mission and for helping us build something that truly matters.
Stay Weird,
Tony Weaver Jr.
Tony Weaver, Jr. here with a joyful announcement for Black History Month. Our nationwide Nerds For Literacy Book giveaway has officially begun!
After raising $180,000 from the nerd community, we spent the end of last year working closely with teachers, educators, and librarians to truly understand how this program could best support students and schools nationwide. We listened. We refined. We built the framework thoughtfully. And I am proud to share that our first official event took place in Miami.
We gave away hundreds of books for students to take home, and made direct donations to their school media center, plus their public library.
We brought engaging, nerdy favorites like Pokémon Adventures and Haikyu!!, which were an immediate hit, and we worked alongside educators to curate additional titles tailored specifically to the needs and interests of that student population. Seeing students light up when they found a book that felt like it was made for them was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
Our next stop is the DMV area! If you are an educator, or know a librarian or school leader in that region who would benefit from a visit, please have them fill out the donation form on our updated website www.nerdsforliteracy.com.
As always, thank you for being part of this journey. Black History Month reminds us that stories matter, access matters, and showing up matters. Because of you, we’re able to keep building something meaningful, one classroom at a time.
Stay Weird,
Tony Weaver Jr.
Hello Friends,
Tony Weaver Jr. here with your latest Nerds for Literacy update! Over the past few weeks, I had the chance to connect with amazing readers and creators at Twin Cities Con, where every copy of Weirdo sold at my table supported Black Garnet Books, a Black-owned bookstore in Minneapolis dedicated to bringing diverse stories to kids and adults across the city.
Behind the scenes, we’re continuing to work with librarians across the country to finalize our city list and design the best possible submission process for schools and libraries seeking support. We want to make sure Nerds for Literacy reaches the communities that need it most and your support is helping us build the foundation to do exactly that.
Tony.
Hello Friends,
Tony Weaver, Jr. here with a quick update on Nerds for Literacy! Now that we’ve reached our fundraising goal, we’re working closely with librarians across the country to make sure the program has the greatest possible impact. After connecting with over 100 librarians at the American Association of School Librarians Conference, we’re developing a process for schools and libraries to submit requests for support and building our city list for upcoming visits.
While our first official school visits will begin in December, the work has already started. We recently partnered with the Cleveland Public Library to participate in #CLE Reads, a community festival celebrating books and creativity where 500 students received free books through the library’s generosity.
This week, I’m in Michigan for the Albion Big Read, an annual celebration that brings the community together around storytelling and literacy by way of their Big Read Youth Leadership Program.
Step by step, we’re continuing our mission to get empowering stories into the hands of young people everywhere.
Tony.
Hello Friends!
Tony Weaver, Jr. here with our first big update!
In less than 24 hours, we've raised over $10,000 towards our $100,000 goal! I use the word "we" because this is something that all of us accomplished. Your individual gifts encouraged others to do the same, and now, we're well on our way to raising $100,000, and putting 10,000 free books into the hands of students. We only have six weeks, and its going to go by fast, so please share the campaign with your friends and family. Honestly...you can share it with your enemies too. You all might bond over fighting childhood illiteracy!
Thank you so much for your efforts to get kids reading. This is only the beginning.
Tony.