To help support US military families whose members are stationed around the world, We Give Books has joined forces with United Through Reading, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit organization that unites families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading aloud together.

United Through Reading’s vision is that all children will feel the security of caring family relationships and develop a love of reading through the read-aloud experience. Their nationally-acclaimed programs provide opportunities for emotional bonding that relieve the stress of separation and instill a love of reading by providing the opportunity for family members to read aloud to children on DVD. Their programs help bring far-away family members back home for a little while each day, and help turn what might otherwise be tentative, anxious family re-introductions into joyous reunions.

Mission

The United Through Reading Military Program eases the stress of separation for US military families by sponsoring a DVD reading of a children’s book by a deployed soldier for their family waiting at home.

In some ways, the program couldn’t be simpler: military personnel have the opportunity to pick a children’s book and then to record themselves reading that book so that the resulting video can be shared with their families while they’re away. The service member first reads a book while being recorded and sends the DVD home to the child. The child at home watches the DVD and follows along with the book, if available. The parent at home captures the child's reaction in a photo or email and sends it back to the service member. In most cases, this process is repeated with new books throughout the service member's tour.

Impact

United Through Reading makes this simple process happen by organizing the books, the videotaping, and the shipping of the DVDs, and by working directly with over 130 Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard commands. Their efforts include more than 50 select USO locations that host United Through Reading Military Programs. In fact, United Through Reading has been in partnership with USO World Headquarters since 2006.

Throughout the course of 2010, We Give Books is hoping to provide books for all deploying military units, and at select USO locations. In addition to providing books for the service members to read, we want to make sure that--in addition to the DVD itself--each child receives his or her own book to accompany the reading.

Goal

This year, We Give Books will be providing more than 5000 books to families and service members served by the The United Through Reading Military Program. Thanks to your efforts, the resulting reading experience will provide parents a chance to make powerful and lasting connections with their children from afar.

Find out more about The United Through Reading Military Program at www. http://www.unitedthroughreading.org.