Today’s post takes a little break from the norm of sharing portrait and wedding photos of fabulous people to talk about a wonderful new non-profit organization called Daddy Read a Book. It was started by my friends Chris and Arielle, who you might recognize from their engagement proposal photographs a few years back! I love what their new organization is trying to do for children and families who have to experience periods of separation. I think it is so important for kids to be connected to their parents through these times and that’s why I did a Q & A with Chris to help spread the word about their mission!
Hi Chris! So tell us what Daddy Read a Book is all about.
Hi Allison! First, it’s great to be able to share Daddy Read a Book with you and everyone who comes to your blog. I’ve been really excited about it.
As I was looking through your blog at all the beautiful family photos, especially the ones with young children, every picture captured what the love of a family and that is what Daddy Read a Book is all about. We connect families.
More specifically, the purpose of Daddy Read a Book is to connect families who are facing separation. We help families facing long periods of separation and connect them through videos of the dad reading his children’s favorite books aloud. Reading to children is so critical in a child’s mental development and forms an amazing connection in families.
We meet with parents who will be away from their families and film them reading their children’s favorite storybooks in stunning HD. Then we give a copy of that video to their children so it can be watched while the parent is gone.
One of the types of families we can help the most are ones in the military. Whether it’s through deployment or training, military dads are often gone for months at a time. We are also able to help parents or kids in the hospital for long-term treatments, or families with a parent in prison. Anywhere that a loving parent is separated from their children, we can help.
Why did you start Daddy Read a Book?
My dad did this for me when I was a child and I loved it. He was away from our family for almost a year when I was very young and, to help make that time easier, he took my favorite children’s books and filmed himself reading them to me. While he was gone I could still see his face on the screen and hear his voice and see him smile. It helped us connect through that tough time.
That’s where the name “Daddy Read a Book” comes from. My dad wrote that on the old VHS tape he gave me more than 20 years ago and the name stuck.
How can someone get involved with Daddy Read a Book?
If you know any families facing separation or a tough circumstance, let us know! Just send us their contact information and we will take it from there.
You can also have them visit DaddyReadaBook.org and support on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest are great!
The organization is also having a big kick-off fundraiser on May 30, 2013 at the Tempe Center for the Arts at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased for a donation here!
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Chris Cottrell is the founder and CEO of Daddy Read a Book and a consultant at Yodle, Inc. He and his wife Arielle live in Tempe, AZ. Connect with him at his blog or over Twitter, LinkedIn and email!
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