Books on Bases Awarded National Honor
Blue Star Families Program Presented with National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize
Falls Church, VA – Blue Star Families is proud to receive the Innovation in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation for Books on Bases. The honor rewards organizations working at the grass roots, in small communities and large cities across the country, to bring the joy of reading to populations that are frequently overlooked.
Books on Bases was created by Blue Star Families, a national non-profit organization by and for military families, to positively impact the lives of military children through the power of reading and help address the educational challenges that many military children face as the result of frequent moves and deployments. Blue Star Families has distributed more than 124,000 books to military children and military-impacted schools and libraries across the country with the generosity of partners such as K.I.D.S., BAE Systems, Random House, Sleeping Bear Press, Operation Paperback and First Book.
“Our military kids make so many sacrifices when having a parent who serves in the military,” said Janet McIntosh, Books on Bases program manager. “Books on Bases is a great program that not only supports our children’s education and literacy skills, but also gives them a morale boost, showing them that we support them in every way. To date we have been able to impact thousands of our military children, giving them the gift of books and creating life-long readers.”
The National Book Foundation praised the program, stating “Blue Star Families’ Books on Bases facilitates stress relief, self-expression, and dialogue among military children by hosting reading events, distributing free books, and holding national reading contests.” As one of five organizations awarded, Books on Bases receives $2,500 along with a framed certificate.
Since the program’s inception in 2009, Books on Bases has impacted the lives of over 362,000 military children at military installations, impacted communities and hospitals across the United States. Throughout its history, Books on Bases has partnered with special guests, including distinguished military members; members of congress; corporate sponsors and celebrities to improve literacy skills amongst military children worldwide.
# # #
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families. Blue Star Families hosts a robust array of morale and empowerment programs, including Books on Bases, Blue Star Museums, Operation Honor Corp, Blue Star Careers and Operation Appreciation. Blue Star Families also works directly with the Department of Defense and senior members of local, state and federal government to bring the most important military family issues to light. Working in concert with other nonprofits, community advocates, and public officials, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable. Blue Star Families’ worldwide membership includes military spouses, children, parents, and friends, as well as service members, veterans and civilians.
To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit http://www.bluestarfam.org. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
About National Book Foundation
The Mission of the National Book Foundation is to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of writing in America. In addition to the National Book Awards, the Foundation’s programs include 5 Under 35, a celebration of young fiction writers selected by former National Book Award Finalists and Winners; the National Book Awards Teen Press Conference, an opportunity for New York City students to interview the current National Book Award Finalists in Young People’s Literature; the Innovations in Reading Prize, awarded to individuals and institutions that have developed innovative means of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading; NBA on Campus, a partnership that brings current National Book Award authors to colleges; and BookUp, an after-school reading program for middle-school students, which is run in New York City and Brazos Valley and Huntsville, Texas.
|
