Reader’s Digest Foundation Donates $2 Million to United Through Reading in Support of Military Families
May 20, 2020
Foundation is Keystone Sponsor of READiness 365 Campaign, promoting literacy for military families during this unprecedented time
NEW YORK (May 20, 2020) – The Reader’s Digest Foundation announced today its commitment of $2 million to United Through Reading, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting military families who are separated—for deployment or military assignment—by providing the bonding experience of shared storytime.
The Foundation’s donation goes towards United Through Reading’s READiness365 Campaign, their new initiative to bolster military family readiness through reading for all service-related separations and encourages military families to read every day, no matter the distance.
“Our military families sacrifice so much for our country. Even today, we see our military called on again and again to defend our nation’s ideals at home and abroad, whether it’s on the battlefield or in hospitals responding to COVID-19,” said Bonnie Kintzer, CEO and President of Trusted Media Brands and Chairman of the Reader’s Digest Foundation.
“No one misses out more from these separations than our amazing little heroes, our military kids. By supporting United Through Reading’s READiness 365 Campaign, we at the Reader’s Digest Foundation can make sure military families are reading together every day, no matter the distance,” added Kintzer.
United Through Reading is hosting a virtual launch event for the READiness 365 campaign on May 20 at 4pm ET. The launch will be hosted by CNN’s Brianna Keiler and will include appearances by Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle, military spouse Hollyanne Milley who is the wife of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of Reader’s Digest Foundation Bonnie Kintzer, and Luke Haskin, a 12-year-old Army kid whose dad is currently deployed.
“United Through Reading is thrilled to continue our partnership with Reader’s Digest Foundation for an additional 3 years to continue connecting military families through shared storytime,” said Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D., CEO of United Through Reading. “We are honored to announce them as the Keystone Sponsor of READiness365, our new campaign to bolster military family readiness through daily reading, no matter the distance.”
Added military kid Luke Haskin: “Having my dad reading me the Harry Potter series is one of my first memories of reading a book and just having those recordings makes me feel like he’s not as far away as he really is.”
READiness365 is United Through Reading’s campaign to bolster military family readiness for all service-related separations by maintaining essential family bonds and building literacy skills through digital storytime. By increasing access to and use of their mobile reading App, while also building access and usage to our Story Stations around the world, they aim to make military families reading ready. All registered attendees to READiness365 will get a FREE book (one per family) and receive updates leading up to the launch. More information can be found at unitedthroughreading.org/R365Launch.
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ABOUT READER’S DIGEST FOUNDATION
Reader’s Digest Foundation, established in 1938, is dedicated to improving children’s literacy and educational success, and to empowering Trusted Media Brands employees to give back and volunteer in their communities. Reader’s Digest Foundation provides grants to support children’s literacy and educational success through its R.E.A.D. Together program. The Foundation also partners with nonprofits to create workplace opportunities for Trusted Media Brands employees to volunteer their time and share their expertise.
ABOUT UNITED THROUGH READING
United Through Reading is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit organization founded 30 years ago to unite military families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading aloud. 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, and cultivates a love of reading and early childhood literacy. At more than 200 recording locations worldwide at any given time, service members can access United Through Reading with their military unit, at select Armed Services YMCA locations and VA clinics, at community and military events, including Yellow Ribbon events, and now wherever they are with the new United Through Reading App. Since its inception, more than 2.4 million military members and their families have benefited from the program.