What a night! The 2016 Storybook Ball.

November 17, 2016

The 8th Annual Storybook Ball held in Coronado, California, was a grand success!
Thanks to our dedicated supporters, generous donors, passionate board members, advocates and volunteers, and Storybook Ball Event Chairman Charlie Van Vechten, United Through Reading raised more than $250,000 to support our mission of connecting military families through the powerful and bonding experience of reading aloud. These funds will allow us to continue to bring bedtime stories home to military children, to connect them with their parent serving from a distance, and to encourage those service members to create memories and build stability for the children they love through story time.

The Honorable Susan Davis CA-53 honored at this year’s Storybook Ball. Left to right: United Through Reading Board Chair, Jeff Mader, The Honorable Susan Davis, Lieutenant Matthew Stroup, USN, and his wife Jenny Lynne, and United Through Reading CEO Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D.

We welcomed more than 300 guests to the Coronado Island Marriott to one of our largest Storybook Ball galas to date including keynote speaker Vice Admiral Michael Shoemaker, USN, and our evening’s Title Sponsor, Bob Koerber, General Manager, BAE Systems Ship Repair. During the gala, United Through Reading honored The Honorable Susan Davis (CA-53), Carter’s Charitable Foundation, and NBC 7 San Diego for their support of United Through Reading and the active military and veteran community. During the evening we also had the privilege of hearing from three military families who shared the impact of United Through Reading on their families. Thank you to Lieutenant Matthew Stroup, USN, and his wife Jenny Lynne, Major Caleb Eames, USMC, his wife Monette and their three beautiful children, and the Sylvester Family for sharing their stories and inviting us into their hearts for a moment to see the great impact of a bedtime story shared from miles away.

To those who attended, contributed, or supported in one way or another, we thank you for your extreme generosity! It’s because of you and the support you provide that we are able to create opportunities for millions of bedtime stories for our military families each year.

Grace and Abby Sylvester share their United Through Reading story at the 8th Annual Storybook Ball.

View the 2016 Storybook Ball photos on Facebook.

A Special Thank You to our Event Sponsors!
In addition to BAE Systems as our Title Sponsor, other event sponsors included: Audrey S. Geisel and the Dr. Seuss Foundation, Ausgar Technologies, Inc., Cracker Barrel Foundation, ELT Insurance Services, Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc., San Diego Padres, Allan and Lindsey Arendsee Family Foundation, Buchanan Design, Cisco, Cobham, Engility Corporation, Insperity, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander G. Kelley, Jeff and Judy Mader, The Swinton Family Fund at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, Unanet, AirBoss Defense, G2 Software Systems, Inc., Dwayne and Kay Junker, Cabrillo Technologies, Doug and Christine Stewart, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Sylvester, Torrey Pines Bank, Mrs. Ruth Van Vechten, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Van Vechten, and Vice Admiral and Mrs. Jim Zortman. We are forever grateful for your generous support.
×