Strengthening Military Families Through Story and Connection

United Through Reading - Nationwide

United Through Reading (UTR) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to
strengthening military families by fostering connection and literacy during times of
separation. Through its innovative programs, UTR enables deployed or geographically
separated service members to record themselves reading aloud to their children,
helping maintain emotional bonds while supporting early learning and literacy skills
development. By combining technology, community engagement, and volunteer
support, UTR serves military-connected families with children from birth through age 18.

A new initiative builds on this mission by expanding digital access and deepening local
engagement where military families need it most. United Through Reading received a
two-year grant totaling $350,000 from the JTMF Foundation to enhance its mobile
application and expand regional programming, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. This
expansion will allow UTR to further strengthen family bonds, promote literacy skills
development, and ensure that military-connected children continue to feel seen and
supported, even during extended separations.

The initiative includes a significant upgrade to the UTR mobile app, introducing features
such as improved story organization, accessibility tools, and interactive elements to
engage children and encourage consistent use. A dedicated Area Manager will also
oversee outreach and programming at military installations in the Pacific Northwest,
providing hands-on support and connecting families with local resources and
volunteers. Through these combined efforts, UTR is expected to directly reach more
than 405,000 military family members annually via the app, with an additional 4,000 or
more individuals served each year through in-person programming. By combining
innovative technology with hands-on community engagement, UTR helps children maintain a sense of stability, supports literacy skills development, and strengthens the emotional connection between parents and their children despite distance or deployment.

The JTMF Foundation is proud to partner with United Through Reading in this vital work
and to support military families who make such significant sacrifices in service to our
nation. Through this partnership, service members can remain present in their children’s
lives, building bonds, resilience, and a lifelong love of reading, one story at a time.

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