Second Lady Usha Vance joins Blue Star Families and Disney for Storytime Magic at MacDill Air Force Base
TAMPA, Fla. – Blue Star Families (BSF) hosted a special Blue Star Books event in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company. This celebration of literacy and military family community featured a special appearance by Second Lady Usha Vance, who supported the launch of her 2026 Summer Reading Challenge—a nationwide initiative encouraging children to read in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The event, held at MacDill Air Force Base, welcomed more than 200 military children and family members who were all surprised with a magical gift-–tickets to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in appreciation for their service to their country. This announcement continues a deep and impactful relationship between BSF and Disney. As part of its “Disney Celebrates America” initiative commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, The Walt Disney Company has committed $2.5 million to BSF to strengthen military families. Over the course of this nearly 15 year collaboration, The Walt Disney Company has generously donated more than 370,000 books to military children, bringing the magic of storytelling directly to those who serve.
“Throughout our long-standing relationship, Disney continues to deliver the joy of reading, helping military children navigate the unique challenges of service life,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO and co-Founder of Blue Star Families. “The presence of Second Lady Usha Vance at this event highlights the transformative power of literacy and powerfully underscores the national importance of supporting our military-connected youth. By fostering stability, well-being, and a love of learning for our families, we directly bolster the retention of our service members and, ultimately, the operational readiness of our force.”
The June 16th event was designed to be an immersive experience for families. Each child in attendance had the opportunity to select ten books to take home, two to share with friends, fostering a personal library and a lifelong love of reading. Families also went home with Blue Star Welcome Kits, which provide comfort for children navigating military moves. These kits were recently assembled by Disney VoluntEARS at Walt Disney World Resort during a day of service at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. In addition to book distribution, the day was filled with interactive activations and surprises, including:
- Surprise Giveaway: Disney generously gifted each attendee a one-day Park Hopper ticket to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
- Character Experiences: A special appearance by Mickey Mouse delighted families and children.
- Literacy Activities: Themed craft stations where children created Jellyfish, Green Aliens, pipe cleaner crowns, and magic wands.
“What an honor to meet many of the brave military families who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country,” said Second Lady Usha Vance. “Navigating parenting on a military base comes with its own unique challenges, so I am thrilled to partner with and support parents as they help their kids learn and grow over the summer. Our service members and their families empower future generations to lead flourishing lives—a goal I also hope to accomplish through my childhood literacy initiative.”
This event is one of several major activations this summer across the country, following a milestone Blue Star Books event at the Library of Congress, Broadway, on American Idol, Disney VoluntEARS events at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, and more. A special screening of “Toy Story 5” for military families is planned for at Camp Pendleton in southern California in the near future.
BSF supports and celebrates military families across their entire service journey. The work is rooted in a fundamental belief that supporting military families is essential to national security. When families are stable and thrive, service members can fully focus on their mission.
Since launching Blue Star Books, BSF has reached more than 775,000 military-connected children across the country, from installations and schools to libraries and hospitals. Disney has contributed more than 370,000 books to the program, ensuring that military children have access to the same enriching experiences as their peers, no matter where their families are stationed. This event furthered that mission, combining community support with the joy of Disney storytelling.
Supporting Military Children Through the Challenges of Relocation and PCS Moves
The need is real: Blue Star Families annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey (MFLS) shows that family well-being is closely tied to stability and connection at home, and nearly one-third of active-duty families completed a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move in the past year alone. With the support of companies like The Walt Disney Company, BSF is helping ensure that military children, wherever they are stationed, have access to the stories, imagination, and community that every child deserves.
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About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. A “blue star family” is the family of a currently serving military member, including active duty, National Guard, reserve forces, and those transitioning out of service. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts. Learn more here.
About The Walt Disney Company
For more than 100 years, Disney has been committed to bringing happiness to kids and families around the world. To learn more about Disney’s legacy of support for veterans and military families, click here.
Media Contact
Elizabeth Donatelli
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Posted In: Press
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