The Forge Initiative and Natural Math book fundraiser
Do you want to get involved in helping children to find joy, strength, and creativity in mathematics? Support the Math Maker Neighborhood alliance! Natural Math is running a fundraiser in the Research Triangle, NC. It features an upcoming children’s illustrated book, My Hundred Friends, about a cozy world where factors, multiples, and combinations mean friendship. Your book purchase will support our awesome math maker neighbor The Forge Initiative, an open innovation tech space nonprofit in Apex, NC.
Use code FORGE1 at NaturalMath.com to preorder My Hundred Friends and our other books before the end of June.
Why participate:
- Support and join creative projects in tech and mathematics around the Research Triangle, NC.
- Give your children or students math stories to read. Explore creative, practical how-to materials for educators at family math, camps, festivals, and math circles.
- All our materials are Creative Commons and DRM-free. Share with your friends or classes, translate, and remix with attribution.
- No shipping fees: pick up your books at the group where you see this message or any Natural Math event or math circle in the Triangle, NC (The Forge, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State University, Durham Academy, DaVinci Dragons, Dix Park, etc.)
- Receive an invitation to your choice of several local book launch math parties in the fall of 2026.
How to participate:
- Add My Hundred Friends and other Natural Math books to your cart on the site.
You can mix and match any of our books, including the My Hundred Friends crowdfunding and Future Book Club preorders. Each book has a name-your-price option. - Type the coupon code FORGE1 when you check out and click the “Apply coupon” button next to it.
This code tells our system that you are a supporter. Natural Math will donate its profits from your entire order to The Forge Initiative. - Natural Math will contact you by email from reach.out@naturalmath.com to arrange the local book pick-up with you.
About The Forge Initiative
The Forge Initiative (TFI) is more than just a tech space. We are a community where individuals from all walks of life come together to explore, create, and inspire one another. Our open innovation model bridges generational gaps and skill levels, bringing families, professionals, students, and retirees together—where everyone is both a learner and a leader.
What sets TFI apart is our volunteer-driven approach. Our programs, workshops, and outreach initiatives are not only tailored to the community’s needs but are designed, led, and run by our very own members. Everything we offer is driven by passion and a shared goal to empower others—where both youth and adults contribute equally.
We empower our community to take charge of their own learning through our Informal Learning and Mentoring D-ELL Model: Discover-Explore, Learn, Lead. This approach encourages members to discover and dive deeper into new interests, learn from real-world experiences, and ultimately lead initiatives that inspire others. Our peer-driven learning environment builds confidence, nurtures creativity, and equips everyone with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
About Natural Math publishing
At the Natural Math Alliance, we believe that a good world is possible with better mathematics. Together with children, parents, teachers, and organizers, we help everyone grow a happy familiarity with all sixty-plus mathematics subjects as math makers. To match these goals, we developed a unique publishing process, giving authors, artists, and even readers a lot of creative control.
A book starts with amazing authors who deeply care about mathematics and learning. Next comes our Future Book Club: the brave volunteers who field-test the draft in their own families, math circles, and other programs, making our books more community-responsive and real.
Natural Math books have been featured by The Atlantic, The NY Times, and many lovely sites dedicated to learning, parenting, and mathematics. Every Natural Math book is published under a Creative Commons open-access license. The Creative Commons site features an interview with the Natural Math founder in its celebration of innovative projects in education.
If you are already a part of the Natural Math community, thank you for your continuing support. If you are new to Natural Math, welcome to the adventure!
