Some of life’s best moments happen between parents, children, and the pages of a good book. In lieu of our annual San Diego-based gala, Storybook Ball, join us for Storybook Chapters, an online virtual event celebrating military families reading together every day, no matter the distance.
In the week leading up to the Closing Chapter on November 14, we will feature stories of how military families stay reading ready through deployment extensions and COVID-19 quarantines through our READiness365 campaign.
Tune in daily starting on Monday, November 9, we will feature a 5-minute video about one of our reading families and how they use United Through Reading to stay connected no matter the distance. Then join us on Saturday, November 14 for our one hour live event, including an exciting auction, presentation of our Storytime Champions Award, and a heartwarming story of how UTR helped a single mom stay connected through a long deployment. Read our full program.
Chapter 1: Family Connections
Monday, November 9
8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT
Chapter 2: Communication
Tuesday, November 10
8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT
Chapter 3: Family Routines
Wednesday, November 11
8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT
Chapter 4: Daily Reading
Thursday, November 12
8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT
The Closing Chapter: Live Virtual Event
Saturday, November 14
8:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM PT
Our live auction features 4 amazing trips, bidding will open on Friday, November 13 at 12 PM ET and close during The Closing Chapter. Learn about the auction items here.
For Handbid help, check out these instructions.
Catherine Garcia
Evening Anchor, NBC7 San Diego
Audrey Geisel Friend of Military Children Award
Brad Meltzer
Storytime Champions Award
VADM DeWolfe “Chip” Miller, USN and Mrs. Ellen Miller
Co-Chairs
Cynthia Curiel
Sector Vice President, Communications
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
RADM David Thomas, USN (Ret)
Vice President and General Manager
BAE Systems, San Diego Ship Repair
Members
Bobby Buchanan
Founder and Creative Director
Buchanan Brand + Design
Jennie Brooks
Senior Vice President
Booz Allen Hamilton
Elyse Dasko
Manager, Public Relations & Communications
GreatCall, Inc.
RADM Fran Holian, USN (Ret)
Northrop Grumman Corp. (Ret)
Dr. Kim Hunt
Director of Evaluation, Research, and Training
Komposset Consulting Strategies, LLC
Byron Johnston
President
Teague Insurance
Dwayne Junker, USN (Ret)
Senior Advisor, Office of the President
Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc.
RADM Terry Kraft, USN (Ret)
Vice President, Leasing and Services
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Sonia Menon
Major Account Manager
US Navy Cisco Systems
Sid Morris
Planning and Development
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
Anne Murphy
President and Senior Information Technology Consultant
Claro Vista, LLC
Chris Parkes
Director of Sales
TriNet Group, Inc.
Robert Pennoyer
Director, C4ISR,
BAE Systems, San Diego
Cathy Spetter
Member Outreach Manager
Navy Federal Credit Union
RDML Dave Steindl, USN (Ret)
Director, Navy/Marine Corps Programs
Lockheed Martin Corp.
Charlie Van Vechten
Storybook Ball Chair Emeritus
Senior Director of Marketing
ESET North America
Ward Wilson, USN (Ret)
Director
Boeing Defense Space & Security
Maggie Young
Associate Executive Director
San Diego Fleet Week Foundation
VADM Jim Zortman, USN (Ret)
Northrop Grumman Corp. (Ret)
Chair
Terri Conn
Members
Krissy Gomez
Chris Heritage
Sharon Kitchener
Rubi Osborne
Nancy Ruttenberg
Amanda Verissimo
Beth Weber
Melodye Whitesell
Cynthia & John Curiel
Anne Murphy & Scott Kuyper
Dwayne & Kay Junker
Jeff & Judy Mader
Stephen & Susan Swinton
Sponsorship Information available here.
For more information please email sponsorship@utr.org.
Together, with your support, we can bring more video-recorded stories home to military children keeping military families connected and resilient while bolstering critical literacy skills for emotionally and academically vulnerable military children!
For more information, email utrevents@utr.org or call 252.412.8671
