ABOUT US

We established our Fund in 2013 as a 501C3 to support the Hudson Children’s Book Festival (HCBF), as well as reading and writing activities in all grades. That first year, our goal was to get more Hudson kids in the Hudson City School District (which includes kids living in Hudson, Claverack, Greenport, Stockport, and Livingston) to the Festival. We gave 400 “Good For” vouchers to students, coupons that they could redeem at the Festival for a free book. Students could choose any book, meet the author, and have a book inscribed with their name. The program was a success, and we continued it in the years that followed. Since 2017, “Good For” vouchers have been given to every single Hudson student, and more than 5,000 kids have redeemed their voucher. An additional benefit of the “Good For” program is an increase in whole-family attendance at the HCBF, giving parents and children an activity centered on books and reading.

Since we began we have:

  • Given more than 8,000 books to kids.
  • Donated over 3,000 new books to Hudson City School District libraries.
  • Provided scholarships to college-bound seniors.
  • Expanded our Young Writers Competition with cash awards in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
  • Implemented our popular “Thumbs Up” program, with more than 5,000 books read and reviewed.
  • Run the “One School, One Book” program for all 3rd Graders to read and share one book together during the Pandemic.
  • Given 100 Desks and Earbuds to Virtual Learners to help them better learn at home.
  • Launched “Sharing Our Stories” writing program.

Our Board of Directors

Our all-volunteer board is made up of teachers, community members, authors, and literacy specialists. All of us are passionate about reading, and we nurture that passion by getting more books into the hands of more people – especially children – in order to steer them to a life-long love for reading.

Christian Trimmer of the Hudson Literacy Fund

Christian Trimmer
President

Christian Trimmer turned his love of reading into a career. He has been editing books for more than fifteen years, with stints at the Disney Book Group, Simon and Schuster, and Macmillan. He currently serves as vice president, head of books for the MTV Entertainment Group. Christian found his place in the world through stories and deeply believes that representation matters. As such, he is committed to telling and publishing projects about underrepresented, misrepresented, and marginalized communities. When not editing books, he writes them, including Teddy’s Favorite Toy (art by Madeline Valentine) and What Are You? (art by Mike Curato), among others. Christian lives with his husband in Hillsdale, New York.

Matt Parker, Treasurer/CFO of the Hudson Literacy Fund

Matt Parker
Treasurer/CFO

Matt has lived in Columbia County for more than twenty years. He worked in the Hudson City Treasurer’s office, ran his own tax prep business, and was past secretary and treasurer for the affiliate union of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), with full fiscal responsibility, which he took on in 2017. Matt recently joined the Hudson City School District administration as Treasurer. He and his wife Sarah have two young readers, Olivia and Evan. Both love nothing more than a bedtime read with their dad.

Meredith Zap of the Hudson Literacy Fund

Meredith Zapp
Secretary

Meredith Zapp was born and raised in Hudson. She has always loved her hometown and hoped to become a teacher in the school she attended as a student. After college she worked as a substitute teacher in Hudson until she landed a teaching position in Chatham, where she was a reading teacher for eight years. In 2021, she became a reading teacher in Hudson. She loves the diversity of the Hudson City School District and she loves helping kids learn how to read. Meredith has a daughter, Arden, and a son, Granger. When Meredith is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and being outdoors.

William S. Blowers

William S. Blowers has been a proud resident of Hudson since 2016. His journey of community involvement and helping others began early, marked by a memorable gift during his fifth-grade graduation: the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, presented to him by the elementary school librarian. This gesture ignited a lifelong passion for reading and giving back. William is an avid reader, with a particular fondness for the works of Ellen Hopkins. His love for literature has shaped his worldview and continues to inspire his commitment to serving his community. Beyond his literary interests, William is dedicated to helping people and making a positive impact in Hudson. Whether through volunteer work or community projects, William strives to make Hudson a better place for everyone. His story is one of kindness, generosity, and a deep love for his community.

Virginia Martin of the Hudson Literacy Fund

Virginia Martin

Virginia earned an MS and a PhD from RPI in communication and rhetoric. As a former election commissioner in Columbia County, she consults and presents on election security issues nationwide, also serving on the advisory board of the National Election Defense Council. She began mentoring with Hudson Reads in 2011. As a child, Virginia’s “second home” was the Kinderhook Memorial Library where she read all the Nancy Drew and Black Stallion books. Then she moved on up to William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, and so many more. Now she’s consumed by histories, biographies, and newspapers. She wants everyone, young and old, to love reading like she does.

Jen Nixon

Jen is an avid reader of books for all ages and strives to bring her enthusiasm for books to her students, colleagues, family, and friends. Born and raised in Hudson, Jen is an alumnus of the Hudson High School Class of 1998. She earned her certifications in Elementary Education as well as Literacy Birth through grade 12 from SUNY Cortland. She has been a Reading Specialist teaching academic intervention for the past 17 years at the Hudson Junior High School. Jen is also the co-director of the Hudson Children’s Book Festival. She makes it a priority to bring in diverse authors and illustrators, so that our community and students can see themselves reflected in the literary works represented. She loves spending time with her husband and young son, who is always up for a great bedtime story or two.

Marlena Peduzzi of the Hudson Literacy Fund

Marlena Peduzzi

Marlena has been a teacher in the Hudson City School District since 1998. Teaching kids to read and write while fostering a love of reading has always been one of her education instructional goals. During her tenure in Hudson, Marlena has been a teaching coach and has supported the professional development of teachers. She is currently the District Literacy Coordinator continuing to support the literacy of students, where she has facilitated multiple literacy projects with the Hudson City School District. Marlena has a Master’s of Science in Reading, is a Literacy Certified teacher for children from birth to 6th grade and is a PhD candidate at the University of Albany in Literacy Teaching and Learning.

Wendy Schmalz Wilde of the Hudson Literacy Fund

Wendy Schmalz Wilde

As Wendy has said, books are her life. From Dr. Seuss to Donna Tartt, there’s never been a time she hasn’t spent part of the day lost in reading. Books are also her career as she is a literary agent. Her tiny 1770s farm house is filled to the gills with books. Books are also why she is on the Board of the Hudson Literacy Fund. Nothing is more important than a passion for reading. It sparks intellectual curiosity and empathy. If she can help just one child find that passion, it’s worth the effort. As the saying goes, “Give a child a book and you give them the world.” 

The Hudson Literacy Fund  Advisory Board

Margaret Davidson

When Margaret was nine, her family moved to England. The first thing her mother did was sign her up at the local library, and she practically lived there…the books were her new friends and have provided excitement and solace to her ever since. Margaret has volunteered at her children’s schools in New York City, and as a college advisor in the New York City public schools. Margaret admits she will read pretty much anything!

Martha McMaster

Martha has been a resident of Columbia County since 1986.  She is a retired psychotherapist and a former early childhood educator with a particular interest in literacy.

Our Literary Sponsors and Underwriters

Galvan is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
A Colaruuso & Son is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Lagonia Construction is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Chatham Wine and Liquor is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Ginsbergs is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Janney is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Liliandloo is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
TKG Real Estate is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Rosepoint Chocolatier is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Stair is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund
Quadrille is a sponsor of the Hudson Literacy Fund

The Bank of Greene County
Paul M. Barrett
Miranda Barry & Charlotte Sheedy
The Berkshire Taconic Foundation 
Barbara & Chip Bohl
Chatham Wine & Liquor
Margaret Davidson
Ellsworth Kelly Foundation
Sheldon Evans & Martha McMaster
Paula & Phillip Forman
John Friedman & Mitchell Motsinger
Richard Friedman & Robert Hughes
Fund For Columbia County
Ginsberg’s Foods
Daniel Greenstone
Jean Hamilton & Rick McCarthy
Kristal Heinz & Ole Breuning
Lisa Bouchard Hoe & Ed Hoe – The Kinderhook Group
Christine Jones & Bert Goldfinger
Meredith Kane
George & Jodi Lagonia – Lagonia Construction
liliandloo
John Lillis & Jeff Bailey
Alice Martell – 
The Martell Agency
Charles Millar – Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.
David Miller
Quadrille – John Knott
Marie & Robert Rasner
The Red House Fund – Barney Karpfinger & Eric Marcus
Rosepoint Chocolatier

John Schobel & Daniel Dean Schmeder
Stair Galleries
Stewart’s Shops
Matthew White & Thomas Schumacher

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