United Through Reading Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Inaugural Community Service Hero Award

March 29, 2016

Medal of Honor recipient and Society President Tom Kelley (left) and Medal of Honor recipient Barney Barnum (right) present the Community Service Hero Award to UTR. UTR CEO, Dr. Sally Ann Zoll and UTR Board Chair, Jeff Mader received on behalf of the organization.

On Friday, March 25, 2016, United Through Reading proudly accepted the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s inaugural Community Service Hero Award at a ceremony at Joint-Base Myer-Henderson Hall on National Medal of Honor Day. United Through Reading (UTR) is the first to receive the ‘Community Service Hero Award,’ which was created by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to recognize a community-based organization for its exceptional impact or mission in supporting our nation’s service member community. United Through Reading was selected for our innovative and grassroots response to a critical need in the armed forces community for over 25 years and our exceptional international impact on military families.

“The Society congratulates United Through Reading for receiving Citizen Honors, in recognition of their visionary leadership  in serving military service members.  UTR embodies the spirit of the Medal of Honor and we are pleased to recognize them for their efforts,” said Tom Kelly, Medal of Honor recipient and Congressional Medal of Honor Society President.

We are honored to be included in these awards, and will endeavor to use this opportunity as the recipient of the inaugural Community Service Hero Award to expand our service to the military community, and to encourage other organizations across America to serve their communities with with courage, sacrifice, selflessness and patriotism.  

Thank you for your continued support of United Through Reading! Our mission delivery would not be possible without the help of volunteers, military families, generous donors,  and UTR friends like you. With your support, we look forward to continuing our mission of connecting military families and encouraging literacy worldwide.

Please visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation online to learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the 2016 Citizen Honors Recipients.