Pictured above: Jane Sanderson Horne, Director of the Lightweaver Foundation.
At The Lightweaver Foundation, we believe in three foundational principles: taking care of basic needs before anything else, providing books to those who might not otherwise have access to them, and inspiring real, lasting change. In other words, we feed bodies, fill minds, and fuel hope. Over the years we’ve done the above in a variety of ways. This year, we’re focusing on a few of our favorite partners and supporting them as our boots-on-the-ground team around the world. Those organizations include:
- Operation Literacy
- Lifting Hands International
- Primary Children’s Hospital (School Zone)
- Prison Book Program
- My Story Matters
Part of our initiatives this year include keeping you all in the loop about where your money is going and showing the change you’re helping facilitate. During Dragonsteel Nexus 2024, we had some of the above partners in the Lightweaver space talking about their specific missions. We’re honored to be partnered with the kinds of people and organizations that do the important work they’re all doing. Here’s a closer look at where your generous donations are going and how they’re creating lasting impact.
Operation Literacy: Inspiring Kids to Read and Dream
Jennifer Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer
For 14 years, Operation Literacy has been connecting young readers with the magic of storytelling. Their teen-focused boot camps have evolved into StoryCon, which is a gathering where teens, educators, and aspiring creators workshop alongside bestselling authors like Jeff Kinney and Brandon Sanderson.
One of their standout programs, Book Drop, has distributed over 30,000 books to children in Title I schools in the last three years. They bring authors into schools, helping kids form personal connections with storytellers. According to Operation Literacy’s findings, children who meet an author are 80% more likely to engage with reading. As Jen explains, these events are about giving kids hope, inspiration, and the belief that they can create stories of their own.
Recently, a local Book Drop event delivered thousands of books, building personal libraries for kids who previously had little to no age-appropriate reading material at home.
My Story Matters: Empowering People to Rewrite Their Stories
Natalyn (Natty) Lewis, Treasurer
At My Story Matters, they believe in the transformative power of storytelling—especially for those in underserved populations like foster youth, refugees, and incarcerated individuals. Their program, Captain Your Story, is built on the hero’s journey framework, giving participants the tools to take control of their narrative and build a path to redemption.
Natty shared the story of Brandon, a man serving time in prison who dreamed of creating a podcast to warn 17-year-olds about the consequences of bad decisions. With the program’s support, he wrote his first podcast episode, which reached a 17-year-old listener and inspired him to ask for help. That one act of storytelling sparked change, proving that sharing your story can save others.
However, My Story Matters is facing a funding challenge. Many government grants require upfront spending before reimbursement, and they need support to bridge that gap. "Your donations don’t just help one person," Natty explains. "They create a ripple effect, reaching families, foster children, and entire communities."
Lifting Hands International: Helping Refugees Rebuild
Jessica Arch, Development Director
Lifting Hands International serves refugees around the world, providing both short-term relief and long-term support. Whether it’s food, water, shelter, or community-building programs, their approach is always driven by listening first—asking what refugees need rather than assuming.
Jessica shared the story of Natalia, a Ukrainian woman who fled her village after her husband was killed in the war. Overwhelmed by grief, she found hope again through grief counseling and art therapy at a community center supported by Lifting Hands. Another success story is Lucy from the Congo, who started a livestock business with the help of two goats provided by the organization. This allowed her to support her children, pay for schooling, and rebuild her life.
Refugees are resourceful and resilient, but they don’t have to face their challenges alone. Thanks to your donations, we can help them find stability and hope
Prison Book Program: Bringing Light to Incarcerated Readers
Tim Riser, Volunteer and Board Member
Prison libraries are often understocked, leaving many incarcerated individuals without access to books. As we all know, books are a critical resource for learning and hope. Prison Book Program sends books directly to people in prison, overcoming restrictions and barriers that make it difficult for individuals to access reading material.
Tim shared letters from incarcerated individuals who describe the books as "letters of light" in a dark place. One letter stood out: "Thanks to reading, I’ve rediscovered hope after being crushed by my initial sentencing." With your support, they’ve been able to send over 75,000 books to prisons, giving inmates access to education and the power to reimagine their futures.
How You Can Help
Your donations to The Lightweaver Foundation directly support these incredible organizations, helping them continue their life-changing work. Whether it’s through giving books to children, uplifting marginalized voices, supporting refugees, or empowering incarcerated individuals to rewrite their stories, every contribution makes a difference.
Explore our site to learn more about these organizations and about Lightweaver as a whole! And, to support all of our 2025 causes, check out our ornaments from DSNX 2024 as well as a commemorative goblet from The Worldhopper Ball.
