OUR IMPACT

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Deployments and frequent separations are a reality for military families. In fact, every year, more than 100,000 military parents deploy leaving nearly 250,000 children at home. That's millions of bedtime stories missed each year by military children.

At UTR, what we do is simple. Stories are read aloud by service members and captured on video to be sent home to military children. Through these simple stories children see their loved ones face, hear their familiar voice, and as they read along in their book something profound takes place:

- The anxiety and stress, caused by separation, fades

- Service members become part of the family’s daily life at home again

- Caregivers at home are supported because the parenting responsibility is shared

- Homecomings begin with a child welcoming a familiar parent, not a stranger

- A love of reading and books is sparked in the child

3,000,000+ Military Family Members Connected Through Shared Storytime

2022 By The Numbers

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900 + Story Stations and Events

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9,000+ Stories Recorded

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85,000+ books distributed

What United Through Reading Families Say:

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Maintain FAMILY CONNECTIONS, boosting morale and making
reintegration easier.
 93% of families said the United Through Reading program made family bonds stronger.

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Reinforce FAMILY ROUTINES which reduces stress for the whole family. 98% of families said United Through Reading is a critical family readiness and resiliency tool.

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Provide COMMUNICATION that is reliable, repeatable, and accessible storytime on demand. 97% of families said UTR recordings made deployments or separations easier.

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Promote DAILY READING, which strengthens military children’s literacy skills and educational development. 90% of families reported an increase in a child’s love of reading since watching UTR video-recordings.

Meet Our Board Trustees: Holly Dailey

Meet Our Board Trustees. Holly Dailey is wearing a blue suit jacket.

Meet our Board of Trustees members in this series. We are honored to have their support and guidance for United Through Reading. Holly A. Dailey is an Army spouse of […]

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Meet our Board Trustees: Ben Davies

Meet our Board of Trustees members in this new series. We are honored to have their support and guidance for United Through Reading. Benjamin (Ben) Davies is the sector vice […]

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Whitesell family connects with The Kissing Hand

melodye and kenneth whitesell with kissing hand book, daughter in navy uniform holding phone

When Melodye Whitesell’s family was facing their first deployment with children in the 1990s, Melodye worried about her young children and possible separation anxiety from their dad, now Vice Admiral […]

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