Fawn Weaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fawn Weaver
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|---|---|
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| Born |
Fawn Evette Wilson
1976 (age 48–49) |
| Occupation | Author, CEO |
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Notable work
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Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey |
| Spouse(s) |
Keith Weaver
(m. 2003) |
| Parent(s) |
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Fawn Weaver (born in 1976) is an American businesswoman and writer. She is the CEO of Grant Sidney Inc. In 2017, Fawn Weaver helped start Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. She is also the main historian for the brand. She founded the Nearest Green Foundation. In 2021, she joined the board of directors for Endeavor, a large entertainment and sports company.
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Early Life and First Steps
Fawn Weaver grew up in Pasadena, California. Her parents were Frank and Philomina Wilson. Her father, Frank Wilson, was a Motown music artist. He later became a Christian minister. When Fawn was young, she met famous Motown stars. These included Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. They were part of her father's ministry.
At age 15, Fawn left home. She stayed with school friends for a short time. Later, she lived in different places that help young people find a safe home. Covenant House in Hollywood, Los Angeles was her last stop.
Before she turned 19, Fawn started her first company. It was called FEW Entertainment. This company focused on PR and special events. She quickly got two big clients. This helped her business grow.
Amazing Career Achievements
Building Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
In 2016, Fawn Weaver traveled to Tennessee. She wanted to learn about the history of Nearest Green. He was a very important person in whiskey making. Fawn's research showed that Nearest Green was the first master distiller for Jack Daniel Distillery. He also taught a young Jack Daniel how to make whiskey.
This discovery inspired Fawn. In 2017, she launched the Nearest Green Distillery. She also started the Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey brand. This made Fawn Weaver the first African-American woman to lead a major spirits brand. It was also the first American spirits brand with an all-female executive team. In 2019, she was the first African-American to be on the cover of American Whiskey magazine.
By 2018, the Uncle Nearest brand was sold in 12 countries. It is now the best-selling spirits brand owned by an African-American. In September 2019, the Uncle Nearest distillery opened. It is located on a large 270-acre ranch in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
In 2022, Food & Wine magazine named Fawn Weaver one of its Drinks Innovators of the Year. She shared this honor with Victoria Eady Butler, the Uncle Nearest master blender.
Before starting the distillery, Fawn also created the Nearest Green Foundation. This foundation honors Nearest Green's important legacy. It offers scholarships for his descendants to go to college. It also has a museum and a memorial park. Fawn also helped create the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative. This is a partnership with Jack Daniel's. It includes a distilling program at Motlow State Community College. It also offers apprenticeships for African-Americans. Plus, it helps black-owned small distilleries grow their businesses.
In 2020, Fawn started the Black Business Booster program. This program helps ten Black-owned spirits companies. It supports them with branding, distribution, and money. In 2021, Fawn and Uncle Nearest created a $50 million fund. This fund invests in spirits companies owned by minority groups.
Other Important Work
Fawn's career began in 1994 with her company, FEW Entertainment. In the early 2000s, she worked in restaurants and real estate. In 2010, she founded Grant Sidney Inc.
Fawn Weaver has also written books. Her first book, Happy Wives Club, came out in 2014. It was a bestseller on the New York Times list. In 2015, she wrote The Argument-Free Marriage. This book gives a 28-day plan for a happy marriage.
In 2018, Time magazine named Fawn Weaver one of "31 People Changing the South."
She was also a board member for Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND) and Slavery No More. In March 2021, she joined the board of directors for Endeavor.
In 2024, Fawn Weaver received the Distinguished Patriotic Award. This award came from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Personal Life
Fawn Evette Wilson was born in 1976. Her father was Motown Records songwriter and producer Frank Wilson. She has been married to Keith Weaver since 2003.
