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Posted June 09, 2008 -
This Father’s Day, Spike TV expands its national fatherhood initiative with True Dads: In Uniform by reaching out to help those fathers serving overseas who can’t physically interact with their kids.
The network has partnered with the USO and United Through Reading® to help more than 100,000 deployed US soldiers and their families stay connected to their children back home by reading a story aloud on DVD.
While in the past, military personnel have been able to write letters, email and send audio cassettes, the United Through Reading Military Program offers children a chance to actually see their parent’s face, listen to their voice and read along as their parent reads them a children’s story. Through this program, which is available directly through military commands and at numerous USOs located throughout the world, deployed parents get the opportunity to share their love and support with their children by reading books aloud on DVD.
Starting this Father’s Day, Spike TV’s True Dads will begin sending camera kits to military units in Iraq and Afghanistan and other remote deployed locations that will enable thousands of service members to read a book and connect with their children back home. Each of the donated kits includes a video camera, tripod, DVDs, packaging and mailing materials. A comprehensive training package and a library of books are sent in advance, so that the reading will be personal and interactive. The completed DVDs are then sent home for the families to enjoy and to ease children’s fears and anxiety about their parent’s absence.
“Spike TV’s True Dads campaign is committed to supporting men in their quest to be active and involved fathers,” says Kelleigh Dulany, vice president of public responsibility for Spike TV. “Reading is a wonderful way to bond with a child and this program is an excellent way for deployed parents to connect with their children from afar and provide them with an emotional connection to help ease the stress of separation.”
Spike TV viewers are encouraged to visit spiketruedads.com starting on Father’s Day to learn more about the United Through Reading Military Program and the USO, and to pledge direct financial support to these outreach efforts. While online, viewers are also invited to send personalized notes and letters to US service members serving abroad to bolster their spirits and reinforce the support they have back home.“United Through Reading founded this program in 1990 to help service members deployed in the Gulf War and their children,” said Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D., chief executive of United Through Reading. “Since that time our program has benefited more than 290,000 children and parents through the participation of individual military commands and through our partnership with the USO which extends our outreach at participating USOs worldwide.”
“We are excited to partner with Spike TV to continue helping deployed troops stay connected to the children in their lives,” said Edward A. Powell, USO president and CEO. “What a perfect opportunity to honor the sacrifice and service of fathers in uniform and military families worldwide.”
Spike TV’s True Dads initiative celebrates and highlights fathers who take an active role in their children’s lives, demonstrating that it is both a rewarding and fulfilling experience. The initiative is designed to encourage responsible fathering and provide the tools and resources to fathers to improve their parenting skills, such as how to talk with their kids, how to balance work and family and ideas of activities to spend more time with their children. The network supports True Dads with a multi-platform campaign that includes PSAs featuring both celebrity and everyday dads, local community outreach events, including events with several Minor League Baseball teams, an enhanced digital media site located at spiketruedads.com, national promotions/sweepstakes and strategic partnerships with National Fatherhood Initiative, ParentsConnect.com and GoCityKids.com, among others.
About United Through Reading®
Developed during the Persian Gulf War in 1990, the United Through Reading Military Program is available to all Carrier Strike Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups, Construction Battalions, Marine Corps Expeditionary Units, Brigade Combat Teams and to deploying National Guard, Reserve and Air Force Units upon request. More than 290,000 military parents, spouses and children have benefited from the program since its inception. 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 communication skills. More than 345,000 parents, spouses and children have benefited from the nationally acclaimed United Through Reading programs. For more information, visit www.unitedthroughreading.org or call 858-481-7323.
About the USO
The USO (United Service Organizations) provides morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, Blackwater Worldwide, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Gallery Furniture, S & K Sales Co., and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.uso.org.
About Spike TV
Spike TV is available in 96.1 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com.
# # #
Press Contacts:
Debra Fazio-Rutt, Spike TV, 212/767-8649, debra.fazio@spiketv.com
Rebecca Heyl, United Through Reading, 858/748-5797, rebeccaheyl@cox.net
Tiane Harrison, USO, 703/908-6433, tharrison@uso.org
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19 PhotosWhat better way to spend the summer than at a Minor League Baseball game with your family. That's what Spike's True Dads did. We invited True Dads to play a game of catch with their kids. Check out these photos from around the country to see what a great time everyone had.
Spike TV has spent the past year helping encourage dads to take an active role in their kids lives through the True Dads Take Action initiative. Now, the network that celebrates men of action is reaching out to the dads in our armed forces to help them stay connected with their families while deployed abroad through True Dads in Uniform.
True Dads In Uniform is a partnership between Spike TV, the USO and United Through Reading that seeks to connect military fathers with their families by providing our servicemen with the means to videotape themselves reading stories and send these personal video messages on DVD to their families at home.
Our goal is to help connect over 140,000 servicemen and their families across all branches of the armed forces through direct network contribution, sponsor contributions and the help of viewers like you. Visit the links below to find out more about how you can help.
They are the fathers of our armed forces.
They are True Dads in Uniform.
Comments (22)
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+3
Bravo to Spike for being involved in such an important and necessary project. Not only will aid in improving literacy and a child's love of reading, but it will also increase the parental bond needed for developmental growth!
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+3
THANK YOU!!! My husband is currently deployed and we have a beautiful babygirl that I would love for her daddy to be able to read stories to at night. I want her to know who he is when he gets home and recognize his voice. I am very interested in this!!!
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+1
I think what you're doing is wonderful. My husband is on his second tour right now and it has been extremely difficult for our kids to deal with him being gone. My only question, do you have a course he can take to actually realize the importance of communication with his kids while he's away? It would be nice if he'd ACTUALLY utilize something like this instead of the constant messages I get about what new toy he expects when he gets home. My kids are constantly sending him pictures they've drawn, every time they know he's online they type something to him (even if it doesn't make any sense) and sleep with his cologne soaked t-shirts while he's away EVERY night and in the 9 months he's been gone so far they haven't even had one letter from him and it's become increasingly difficult for me to keep them from crying at night because they miss him so much. Yes he's our hero, but sometimes I wonder if he's been turned into such a "lean mean killing machine" it's made him completely oblivious to the emotional needs of his family. I'm sure not too many people have heard about this side of the war, and it's time they did.
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-1
While I'm pleased that SPIKE is getting involved with with social issues, particularly those related to educating our children, I'm extremely disappointed that this centers on the MEN in uniform only. As a female veteran of Desert Storm, I'm actually quite offended by this.
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+1
I commend you for honoring our brave men. I just wanted to ut a word in for all of the moms. I am an active duty air force mom and I love SpikeTv. I just got back from Iraq. I left my civilian husband, my 4 year old son, and my 2 year old daughter. I just want to thank every armed forces member and their families for supporting our troops.
AirForce Mom0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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Hey Spike,
I think that what you are doing is awesome, and in so many ways. It teaches the children that there are people who think that what their father's are doing is important, it probaby teaches a few servicemen the importance of reading to their children, it gives the family an invaluable keepsake and most of all it just a darn nice thing to do. Thank you.
Jimi0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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As an avid fan of spike, my husband and I watch often. He has been in the Marine Corps going on 15 years now. I am sorry for the previous poster that she was offended by the fact that Spike is doing something good for the military, how can someone be offended by something that brings children and their families together. Kudos to Spike for keeping the military close to their hearts, they also know who their viewers are. We will keep watching so keep up the good work.
USMC WIFE0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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i am so happy to see that spike is willing to lend a helping hand, and show the military that they care. i know this support must be uplifting to everyone!
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As the wife of a 'lifer' and the mother of my marines child, I think its awesome to know that for the next 15 years of my husbands career, I have something to look forward to besides homecomings! I always worry about what will happen for many long months without my husband and the father of my child... and to think that this is possible is a wonderful thought! I love that the stars get involved in the lives of our service men and women. Way to go Spike for supporting our troops the way we as wives and family memebers do EACH and EVER day! God Bless our troops and may they ALL come home safe and soon!
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Hello everyone. My name's John Papola and I'm the producer/director of True Dads and now True Dads in Uniform. I just wanted to reach out and let all of you know that everyone at Spike is committed to this effort from the top down and we're just at the beginning stages of this partnership.
We're in the process of designing a new dedicated site that will bring even great visibility to the program as well as simplify donations. So please spread the word and keep coming back to spiketruedads.com.
You guys are the real men (and women) of action and all of us at Spike salute you and your families. God Bless you all and thank you for the sacrifices you make to keep our country safe.0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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-1
Hey, I'm not some kick army, navy or marine guy but I don't care cause I kicked ass in front of both my boys. Do you know that almost impossible carny game to win at, ya know the one even SEAL sharpshooters have a tough time doing? Well, I'm neither of those but I did it my fourth try at it I shot out the red star and my boys were there to see me do it I won a stupid big Stuey out of it instead of the guitar I was tryin' to get for my boy, oh well as long as I did it in front of them. That makes Dad Sharpshooter extrodanaire, plus its another thing my ex-wife's husband can't do himself.
George Prince0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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My husband is currently deployed on his 2nd tour in Iraq. We have a 21 month old son and I show him pictures of his daddy and he kisses the pictures. My son loves it when I read to him and I would love for my son to be able to have his daddy read to him. I would love to know how my husband can get involved in in this program. My e-mail is j.cabaday@hotmail.com. Thank you and everyone for supporting our troops!!
Jessica0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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Kudos to the comments on here that include the MOMs of the military that have to leave their families too!!!! Mr. Papola puts 'women' in ()?? As a 30 yr veteran AND a Woman I resent the fact that this is called 'True Dads'. I started in the Army as a female who wasn't allowed in combat to recognizing that We are just as capable in times of 'stress'. We've made the strides/sacrifices since 1921 and have proved ourselves. There are Many women/mothers in harms way too who need/want/deserve the same recognition. So change this site to True Moms/Dads In Uniform. They ALL deserve it!!!!!!!
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I applaude Spike for doing this because so many of the men are not able to get to a computer and use a web cam because of where they are stationed. My husband is over in Iraq for the second time and spends weeks at a time at a patrol base where I am lucky to hear from him once a week via phone and even then our daughter cant get to hear him talk. There is also soldiersangels.com that has an area solely for women in the military I should know I am a Soldier's Angel Volunteer.
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I applaude Spike for doing this because so many of the men are not able to get to a computer and use a web cam because of where they are stationed. My husband is over in Iraq for the second time and spends weeks at a time at a patrol base where I am lucky to hear from him once a week via phone and even then our daughter cant get to hear him talk. There is also soldiersangels.com that has an area solely for women in the military I should know I am a Soldier's Angel Volunteer.
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Hello Spike, me and my mother would like to thank you for supporting our troops. We mean this from the heart, there are alot of families out there that don't get to hear from their loved ones that are deployed. As much as the soldiers try to, sometimes they can't. It's not the soldiers fault, it's where they're deployed to. I'm joining the Army in a couple of months, and I hope that I can communicate with my family while I'm gone through what yall are supporting us with. Oh and one more thing, it's not only the dads that are deployed. There are mothers that are deployed to. Just thought I would add that. Thank you for everything that you are supporting our troops with! God bless
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+1
Is it REALLY 2008?
While I think what you're doing is great in supporting the military, I'm not sure why you would leave out the fact that there are women, some of whom are "moms" serving in Uniform as well.
We don't call them "firemen" or "policemen" any more, because it is exclusionary.
There are not just "dads" or "men" serving in the war.
Get with the program.0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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This is awful that in today's day and age that women are not getting the recognition that they deserve. This is a great program but what about the MOTHERS who are fighting for our freedom. With all the people that contribute to this program, I can not believe that no one mentioned women.
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Spike TV.
What you have created is a godsend. I can't tell you how hard it is to survive 18 month deployments (Yes, I said 18 months.) away from family. Especially children. No one realizes what soldiers, marines, naval and airmen (and women, thank you) really do--except for the families that are waiting here for them. Thank you,
And as a WOMAN in the ARMY, I do not mind that you did not mention us. We're all soldiers.
We're all doing our jobs.0 replies Reply Flag comment as inappropriate
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It's awesome that you guys are doing this. My husband and father of our two children is Deployed to South Korea! It's very important to keep connected which is hard with the cost of everything international I know you should see my phone bill it's between 600 and 1000 every month. It's amazing what your doing. Thanks.
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As a single father I just want to thank you for recognizing the fathers out there like myself that serve our country. The hardest challenge we face doesn't come from our enemys but that of leaving behind our children and loved ones. Im about to head off on my second trip to the sand and know first hand how much a diffrence it makes in the soldiers and familys lifes to see eachother.
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Great Job Spike Shows That You Really Care About Our Servicemen..To all the ladies out there who are offended by this orginization..its called Spike True Dads because spike tv is centered towards male viewers..there not trying to say women arent serving there country they do it just just as much as men..but its near father's day and spike tv is men oriented
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