Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash, Mayor Brown, "CSI" Creator Anthony E. Zuiker and His Wife, Buffalo Native Michelle Zuiker, Announce Donation to Buffalo Schools

BUFFALO, N.Y., May 23, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Buffalo Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash, Mayor Byron W. Brown, and Anthony E. & Michelle Zuiker, founders of Zuiker Press, came together Wednesday at a special ceremony in City Hall to help solve some of the many issues facing teens. The parties announced that through a generous donation from the National Writing Project, a national non-profit, students in grades 5-12 at Buffalo Public Schools would now have access to the first series of issued-based graphic novels from Zuiker Press in their classrooms and libraries.

The first four graphic novels include "Colorblind: A Story of Racism" by Jonathan Harris, "Imperfect: A Story of Body Image" by Dounya Awada, "Mend: A Story of Divorce," by Sophia Recca, and "Click: A Story of Cyberbullying," by Lexi Philips. Future titles deal with school shootings, transgender issues, suicide, autism, gaming addiction, vaping, anxiety and opioid abuse.

Anthony E. Zuiker created "CSI," one of the most popular TV shows in the world, but it was his wife Michelle, a Buffalo native and 18-year educator at award-winning schools, who encouraged Anthony to form a publishing company and combine their storytelling and educating talents to give teens a voice in a format that would resonate with other teens, the graphic novel form.

"Anthony and Michelle gave us such an incredible pitch for why their graphic novels should be a part of Buffalo Schools, I can see why "CSI" was such a hit," said Dr. Cash. "When we saw the books for the first time, it was very apparent what a beautiful tool they were on so many levels. These authors are real teens with real stories that have the potential to help others, so we are proud to make them available to our students here in Buffalo."

"We are grateful to Anthony and Michelle Zuiker for this generous donation of $25,000 in books to the Buffalo Public Schools and Say Yes Buffalo," said Mayor Byron W. Brown. "Unfortunately, bullying, divorce, opioid abuse and gender identity are among the many serious issues teens in Buffalo and in cities across the country grapple with every day. These relevant issue-based books will provide our youth with real-life coping strategies. I commend the Zuikers for bringing this new series of stories to Buffalo in an effort to help teens overcome personal struggles and better lives."

Through a distribution deal with Simon & Schuster, the graphic novels are available at traditional online, retail, and independent bookstores, though the Zuikers are also working on a grassroots levels to raise funds and offer the graphic novels to schools for free along with an educational packet as a tool for teachers.

"Upon first meeting Mayor Brown and Dr. Cash, there is no question about their commitment to education and all of the students here in Buffalo," said Anthony and Michelle. "We are so honored to have their support and really see Buffalo as a model that will set the bar for other school districts looking for every tool possible to help children with the magnitude of issues they deal with today."

The Zuikers have also been invited to the American Library Association's annual conference in Washington, D.C., where on June 22nd, Zuiker Press author Lauren Hogg will read from her book "Activist: A Story of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Shooting."

For more information on Zuiker Press or to donate books in your community, visit http://www.zuikerpress.com.

SOURCE Zuiker Press