Over 3.8 Million Military Family Members Connected Through Shared Storytime
Staying Connected Through Storytime
Deployments and frequent separations are a reality for military families. Every year, more than 100,000 military parents deploy, leaving nearly 250,000 children at home. That’s millions of missed bedtime stories and moments of connection.
At United Through Reading (UTR), we make it simple for families to stay close—no matter the distance. Service members record themselves reading a story aloud, and the video is sent home for the children in their lives to watch again and again. Being able to see their loved one’s face and hear their voice and laughter is priceless for a child.
Through these stories, something powerful happens:
With every story shared, UTR helps families stay connected through the comfort of a familiar voice and the joy of reading together
“After fourteen years as a military family, we’ve had our share of missed bedtimes. Before Dad’s most recent deployment, he recorded a playlist’s worth of bedtime stories. Listening to those recordings became the highlight of our day! Everyone, even the preteens, would wander into the bedroom when they heard his voice start reading. The silly voices made us laugh, and hearing Dad’s voice each night brought us such comfort. We are so grateful to programs like United Through Reading that help military families stay connected through story time.”
— The Mendoza family
Maintain FAMILY CONNECTIONS, boosting morale and making reintegration easier. 93% of families said the United Through Reading program made family bonds stronger.
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.
Provide COMMUNICATION that is reliable, repeatable, and accessible storytime on demand. 97% of families said UTR recordings made deployments or separations easier.
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.
