United Through Reading Named Recipient of 2015 Library of Congress Literacy Award

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–San Diego based nonprofit, United Through Reading^Ⓡ, has been
selected to receive the 2015 American Prize of the Library of Congress
Literacy Awards Program, awarding the nonprofit $50,000. United Through
Reading has been selected for its significant and measurable
contribution to increasing literacy levels and the national awareness of
the importance of literacy.

United Through Reading’s mission is to connect service members who are
separated from their families due to deployment, training, or
active-duty assignment, to their families at home through the act of
reading aloud. Service members are video recorded at nearly 200
locations worldwide reading children’s books to the special kids in
their life. Those videos are sent home, along with a new book, so that
military children have access to their service member whenever they need
them, despite the distance.

“We are truly honored to have received the American Literacy Prize from
the Library of Congress Literacy Awards,” said United Through Reading
Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sally Ann Zoll. “United Through Reading —
our board, staff, volunteers and donors — work very hard to ensure that
every military child can benefit from the read-aloud experience, as we
know the impact it can have on early literacy development and growth.
We’re proud that this award corroborates our work influencing our
military community and alleviating the literacy challenges our society
faces.”

United Through Reading creates a unique read-aloud opportunity for
military families who may otherwise struggle to continue their tradition
of shared story time during the physical separations caused by
deployments and other military assignments. Program participants have
experienced significant benefits through this program, with over 75
percent of surveyed participants reporting that the program increases
their child’s interest in reading and books.

Other 2015 Library of Congress Literacy Award recipients include First
Book and Beanstalk. Through the generosity of David M. Rubenstein, the
Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program honors organizations that
have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the United
States or abroad. The awards also encourage the continuing development
of innovative methods for combating illiteracy and the wide
dissemination of the most effective practices. They are intended to draw
public attention to the continuing need for literacy services and to
increase awareness of the importance of literacy. By recognizing current
achievements, the awards seek to inspire organizations, foundations, and
other private sector groups to become involved in combating illiteracy.

About United Through Reading

United Through Reading is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) public benefit
organization established 26 years ago; its mission is to unite military
families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding
experience of reading aloud together. 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 nearly 200 recording locations worldwide,
service members can read to the children who are special to them from
units on ships, in tents in Afghanistan, on bases around the world, and
at more than 40 USO centers worldwide. Since its inception, more than 2
million military parents, spouses and children have benefited from the
program.

Contacts

United Through Reading
Taylor Monaco, 619-820-6941