Announcement at 2nd Annual Capitol Reception

U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla. and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala, with nine year old Emma Reese. Emma’s Dad has been deployed over half her life so she stays connected by reading along with him on the DVDs he made for her.

United Through Reading and BAE Systems co-hosted the second annual Capitol Reception at the CapitolVisitorCenterin Washington, D.C.on September 21st, 2011.  Over 150 guests from the House Armed Services Committee, Congressional staff, industry, the nonprofit sector, active duty military, and military families attended.  After an impactful video about United Through Reading set the emotional stage,   Representative Mike Rogers (AL) and Representative Allen West (FL) spoke about the number of service members who are separated from their families and the importance of keeping them connected to their children through programs like United Through Reading.  According to a 2010 Blue Star Families survey, there are 1.9 million children with a parent serving in the military; 220,000 of these children have a parent currently deployed. The demands of extended separation add to the challenges faced by military families.  Representative West spoke personally about the separation that he and his family have experienced over generations of military service.

Doug Stewart, VP Legislative Affairs, BAE Systems, addresses the crowd.

Commander Mark Melson, USN, and his wife, Stephanie, punctuated this sentiment by relaying their recent deployment experience where United Through Reading program managers worked with their command leadership to set up recording locations in El Salvador; Sigonella, Italy; and Djibouti, Africa.  With three young children of their own,   they benefited from having Commander Melson reading storybooks aloud on DVD.  To Stephanie’s delight, her children watched and listened to the DVDs again and again.       

Remarks from Dr. Sally Ann Zoll, chief executive of United Through Reading, translated the intuitive benefits of United Through Reading into statistical evidence from an online survey of more than 400 United Through Reading participants: 

  • More than 75 percent of participants said the video recordings reduced their children’s anxiety about deployment
  • More than 85 percent said that the recordings helped the deployed service member stay connected
  • And more than 67 percent of participants said their children’s interest in reading and books increased after participating in United Through Reading 

United Through Reading staff attends the Capitol Reception.

Zoll commended every organization that makes a difference in keeping military families connected and acknowledged United Through Reading’s strategic partners in the audience.  She highlighted the programmatic partnership with the USO that has been growing strong since 2006.  The USO engaged TARP Worldwide in 2009 and 2010 to query participants and found that United Through Reading’s Military Program is: 

  • The number one USO program rated “extremely valuable” by active duty service members and their families; 90 percent of participated rated the experience as “extremely valuable”
  • The number one USO program in terms of “satisfaction” with over 81 percent of active duty and families who have used the program being “very satisfied”
  • The portion ranking United Through Reading as “extremely valuable” and those who are “very satisfied” has increased each year 

Zoll concluded, “We have served over one million beneficiariesin the past 22 years.  Our largest market share is with Navy & Marine Corps Commands which run over half of our 270 recording locations worldwide.  USO hosts another 30%.  We are thrilled with that success, but we also recognize that we have a tremendous growth opportunity in broadening our exposure and usage in the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard.”

Erin Moseley, Senior VP of Government Relations at BAE Systems, acknowledged the growth opportunity for United Through Reading to reach more military families.  She encouraged industry to step up.  BAE Systems has contributed significantly as an industry sponsor.  In addition, BAE Systems spearheaded the first-ever virtual book drive which raised over $50,000 in books. 

Nine-year-old Emma Reese concluded the program.  Her dad has been deployed 44 months in the past seven years. It will be 46 months by the time he gets back from the current deployment. That is a significant amount of time to be away from his family  — over three and a half years.  Emma’s Mom, Alia, said that the Reese family likes to note that this is a story shared by many families and a sacrifice they are proud to endure since many have given more.  From Emma’s viewpoint, she doesn’t feel like her Dad has been gone that much. She thinks the reason she feels like he is part of her every day is because she still gets to read with him whenever she wants.  She simply pops in a DVD.  United Through Reading acknowledges that the program concept is simple, but to profound effect.