United Through Reading Supports First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces Initiative by Doubling Commitment to Army and National Guard by 2013

Sustains Historic Presence With All Deployed Service Members and Their Families

San Diego, CA – December 8, 2011 United Through Reading, the nation’s first nonprofit to promote the read-aloud experience for military families, today pledged to double its commitment to U.S. Army and National Guard families in the next two years as part of its formal support of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces Initiative. Thousands of additional families will be served.

The nonprofit organization, created in 1989, allows deployed parents to video-record books to their children, which eases the stress of separation, maintains positive emotional connections and cultivates a love of reading. Since the program began, more than one million beneficiaries have been served.

“United Through Reading can be found at more than 260 recording locations worldwide,” said Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D., chief executive officer of United Through Reading. “U.S. troops can read to their children from command units on ships, in tents in the desert and at 70 USO centers worldwide. With our efforts to double our commitment to the Army and National Guard, we will serve many more military families.” 

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces, a national initiative to support and honor America’s service members and their families on April 12.

“United Through Reading’s efforts to expand its impact into the homes of more Army and National Guard families is another great example of how we can all step up to support military families in our community and we thank them for their work,” said Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces.

“For 22 years, United Through Reading has helped strengthen family resiliency by easing the fear, uncertainty and anxiety felt by children in military families,” said Zoll. “We are thrilled to support the Joining Forces initiative and heartily applaud First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Biden for leading the charge on this vital initiative.”

United Through Reading serves more than 325,000 beneficiaries per year. Research shows that more than 75 percent of users of the program believe it reduced their child’s anxiety about deployment and more than 85 percent have said that it helped the service member stay emotionally connected despite the miles. There have been more than one million beneficiaries of the program since its inception. 

Joining Forces was created by Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden to address the unique challenges and needs military families face and to encourage all Americans to support our troops and their families. For more information, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces.

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United Through Reading Supports First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces Initiative by Doubling Commitment to Army and National Guard by 2013

United Through Reading celebrated serving those parents who take the time to read a bedtime story no matter where they are in the world at the third annual Storybook Ball on November 12, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine.

The gala fundraising event, with title sponsorship by BAE Systems, and chaired by Jan Krystkowiak with Honorary Chair, Laura Numeroff, author of the bestselling series that began with ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie’, was a joyous success.

Approximately 300 friends of United Through Reading gathered to enjoy good food, fine wines, fantastic silent and live auctions, along with moving tributes to our honorees.
We were pleased to honor San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), for creating an essential network for communication and collaboration to advance the wellbeing of our military; Target for a stellar parternship that has, since 2005, provided Target Starter Kits full of the best children’s books, DVDs and mailers to new commands, contributed vital funding for new initiatives and program growth, and has become an active partner in our pursuit of technology solutions that will help ensure we can serve service members wherever they are in the world.

PGA Tour player Rory Sabbatini and his wife, Amy were the recipients of this year’s Angel Award for their commitment to military families and their steadfast generosity and commitment to United Through Reading.

The Board of Trustees and the staff of United Through Reading are grateful for the support of our donors and humbled by the service of our volunteers. Our heartfelt thanks to all who participated in our 2011 Storybook Ball!

Announcement at 2^nd Annual Capitol Reception

U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla. and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala, with nine year old Emma Reese. Emma’s Dad has been deployed over half her life so she stays connected by reading along with him on the DVDs he made for her.

United Through Reading and BAE Systems co-hosted the second annual Capitol Reception at the CapitolVisitorCenterin Washington, D.C.on September 21^st, 2011.  Over 150 guests from the House Armed Services Committee, Congressional staff, industry, the nonprofit sector, active duty military, and military families attended.  After an impactful video about United Through Reading set the emotional stage,   Representative Mike Rogers (AL) and Representative Allen West (FL) spoke about the number of service members who are separated from their families and the importance of keeping them connected to their children through programs like United Through Reading.  According to a 2010 Blue Star Families survey, there are 1.9 million children with a parent serving in the military; 220,000 of these children have a parent currently deployed. The demands of extended separation add to the challenges faced by military families.  Representative West spoke personally about the separation that he and his family have experienced over generations of military service.

Doug Stewart, VP Legislative Affairs, BAE Systems, addresses the crowd.

Commander Mark Melson, USN, and his wife, Stephanie, punctuated this sentiment by relaying their recent deployment experience where United Through Reading program managers worked with their command leadership to set up recording locations in El Salvador; Sigonella, Italy; and Djibouti, Africa.  With three young children of their own,   they benefited from having Commander Melson reading storybooks aloud on DVD.  To Stephanie’s delight, her children watched and listened to the DVDs again and again.       

Remarks from Dr. Sally Ann Zoll, chief executive of United Through Reading, translated the intuitive benefits of United Through Reading into statistical evidence from an online survey of more than 400 United Through Reading participants: 

• More than 75 percent of participants said the video recordings reduced their children’s anxiety about deployment
• More than 85 percent said that the recordings helped the deployed service member stay connected
• And more than 67 percent of participants said their children’s interest in reading and books increased after participating in United Through Reading 

United Through Reading staff attends the Capitol Reception.

Zoll commended every organization that makes a difference in keeping military families connected and acknowledged United Through Reading’s strategic partners in the audience.  She highlighted the programmatic partnership with the USO that has been growing strong since 2006.  The USO engaged TARP Worldwide in 2009 and 2010 to query participants and found that United Through Reading’s Military Program is: 

• The number one USO program rated “extremely valuable” by active duty service members and their families; 90 percent of participated rated the experience as “extremely valuable”
• The number one USO program in terms of “satisfaction” with over 81 percent of active duty and families who have used the program being “very satisfied”
• The portion ranking United Through Reading as “extremely valuable” and those who are “very satisfied” has increased each year 

Zoll concluded, “We have served over one million beneficiariesin the past 22 years.  Our largest market share is with Navy & Marine Corps Commands which run over half of our 270 recording locations worldwide.  USO hosts another 30%.  We are thrilled with that success, but we also recognize that we have a tremendous growth opportunity in broadening our exposure and usage in the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard.”

Erin Moseley, Senior VP of Government Relations at BAE Systems, acknowledged the growth opportunity for United Through Reading to reach more military families.  She encouraged industry to step up.  BAE Systems has contributed significantly as an industry sponsor.  In addition, BAE Systems spearheaded the first-ever virtual book drive which raised over $50,000 in books. 

Nine-year-old Emma Reese concluded the program.  Her dad has been deployed 44 months in the past seven years. It will be 46 months by the time he gets back from the current deployment. That is a significant amount of time to be away from his family  — over three and a half years.  Emma’s Mom, Alia, said that the Reese family likes to note that this is a story shared by many families and a sacrifice they are proud to endure since many have given more.  From Emma’s viewpoint, she doesn’t feel like her Dad has been gone that much. She thinks the reason she feels like he is part of her every day is because she still gets to read with him whenever she wants.  She simply pops in a DVD.  United Through Reading acknowledges that the program concept is simple, but to profound effect. 

Sally Ann Zoll, CEO, United Through Reading and
Erin Moseley, Senior VP, Government Relations, BAE Systems

Will attend a Capitol Reception for United Through Reading

With Special Guests:

Representative Mike Rogers (AL)
and
Representative Allen West (FL)

Wednesday, September 21, 2011
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Capitol Visitor’s Center
Congressional Meeting Room North

The San Diego-based nonprofit “Reading Legacies” will be assuming operations of the Transitions Program

As a result of recent strategic planning and analysis by its board of trustees, United Through Reading is sharpening its mission and moving forward with plans for the non-profit organization to focus solely on its highly successful military program.

“Concentrating our resources on our military program will allow United Through Reading to fully direct our personnel and funding toward this rewarding program that has been so well received to date,” said Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D., chief executive officer of United Through Reading. [Read more...]

Video: USO/United Through Reading Partnership

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Left to right: Director of Army Expansion, CathyJackman; CEO, Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D.; BAE Systems VP Legislative Affairs and UTR Board Member, Doug Stewart; Director of Business Services, Kara Dallman

On October 6, BAE Systems and United Through Reading hosted a reception at the Capitol Visitor’s Center in Washington, DC, to celebrate United Through Reading’s service to over one million beneficiaries and over 20 years of connecting military families.

Guest speakers included Robert Fitch, Senior VP Government Relations for BAE Systems; Doug Stewart, VP Legislative Affairs, BAE Systems; and Sally Ann Zoll, CEO United Through Reading. [Read more...]

CEO Sally Ann Zoll was invited to attend “A Conversation with Admiral Mullen”, as sponsored by the California Community Foundation, where Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Mrs. Mullen conveyed their tremendous support of our military families and encouraged communities, organizations, and individuals to support them as well.

Personalized Book for Deployed Military Families

Where in the World Books, created by children’s author Jan Krystkowiak, are personalized children’s books that incorporate the child’s name into the story and photos with state of the art print technology.

“You’re Never far Away” is a book customized for the deployed Servicemen and written with deployment in mind. [Read more...]