SAN DIEGO, Dec 08, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — United Through Reading, the nation’s first nonprofit to promote the read-aloud experience for military families, today pledged to double its commitment to U.S. Army and National Guard families in the next two years as part of its formal support of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces Initiative. Thousands of additional families will be served.

The nonprofit organization, created in 1989, allows deployed parents to video-record books to their children, which eases the stress of separation, maintains positive emotional connections and cultivates a love of reading. Since the program began, more than one million beneficiaries have been served.

“United Through Reading can be found at more than 260 recording locations worldwide,” said Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D., chief executive officer of United Through Reading. “U.S. troops can read to their children from command units on ships, in tents in the desert and at 70 USO centers worldwide. With our efforts to double our commitment to the Army and National Guard, we will serve many more military families.”

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces, a national initiative to support and honor America’s service members and their families on April 12.

“United Through Reading’s efforts to expand its impact into the homes of more Army and National Guard families is another great example of how we can all step up to support military families in our community and we thank them for their work,” said Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces.

“For 22 years, United Through Reading has helped strengthen family resiliency by easing the fear, uncertainty and anxiety felt by children in military families,” said Zoll. “We are thrilled to support the Joining Forces initiative and heartily applaud First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Biden for leading the charge on this vital initiative.”

United Through Reading serves more than 325,000 beneficiaries per year. Research shows that more than 75 percent of users of the program believe it reduced their child’s anxiety about deployment and more than 85 percent have said that it helped the service member stay emotionally connected despite the miles. There have been more than one million beneficiaries of the program since its inception.

Joining Forces was created by Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden to address the unique challenges and needs military families face and to encourage all Americans to support our troops and their families. For more information, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces .

About United Through Reading:

Founded in 1989, United Through Reading was the nation’s first nonprofit to promote the read-aloud experience for separated families. Research shows that the read-aloud experience is a way for children to experience the joy of reading and gain critical learning and communications skills. For more information, visit www.unitedthroughreading.org or call (858) 481-7323. United Through Reading can also be found on Facebook and at @UnitedTReading on Twitter.

SOURCE: United Through Reading

                  United Through Reading          Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D.  858 481 7323