United Through Reading Selected as Finalist in ESET’s Nonprofit Pitch Fest

October 12, 2017

(San Diego, CA) – October 12, 2017 – United Through Reading (UTR) was named a Finalist in ESET’s Nonprofit Pitch Fest and will receive a $2,000 cash prize.

UTR applied for funds from ESET in order support quarterly reading campaigns which include distribution of a variety of age-appropriate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) books. Service members are often excited about STEM books because many are in technical and engineering positions and want to share their passions with the children in their lives. In the past three years UTR has sent more than 800 STEM-topic books to recordings sites all over the world.  Those books multiply, too. Eight hundred books are shared by 3,200 family members: moms, dads, and children.

“At UTR we provide a crucial educational experience for military children they would otherwise find hard to come by during deployment,” said Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D., CEO of United Through Reading. “ESET clearly recognized the read-aloud routine provides an impactful stability and reassurance for children moving through a season without a parent, and we’re thankful they are standing with us in our mission.”

In all, more than 30 U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations submitted essay entries to the ESET Nonprofit Pitch Fest. Six contest winners were collectively awarded $30,000 in total prize money, with UTR as one of the recipients.

ESET held the contest to help usher in its 30th anniversary and celebrating its continuous innovation in IT security. The three categories included Women in Technology, Cybersecurity and STEAM/STEM Education, and the Innovation/Startup Economy. Contestants wrote answers to an essay question that asked how their program/initiative in the respective category would contribute to the next 30 years of innovation in the community. The initial organizations were voted on by the general public, and the top 10 vote-getters were entered into the final stage of judging, where a selection committee evaluated the nonprofits’ essays based on (1) alignment with one or more of the three noted categories and strength of the idea, (2) need for proposed program/initiative in the community and (3) feasibility of program deployment.

 

About United Through Reading
United Through Reading is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) public benefit organization that has served military families for nearly 28 years; its mission is to unite military families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading aloud together. United Through Reading offers service members the opportunity to be video-recorded reading storybooks to children at home which eases the stress of separation, maintains positive emotional connections, encourage early childhood literacy, and cultivates a love of books and reading. At more than 200 recording locations worldwide, service members can read to the children who are special to them on military bases and outposts, deployed U.S. Navy ships, U.S. Coast Guard cutters and at select USO host sites. Since its inception, more than 2 million military parents, spouses, and children have benefited from United Through Reading. Learn more at unitedthroughreading.org.

 

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint and mobile security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give consumers and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D centers worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedInFacebook and Twitter.

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