Second Lady Usha Vance Promotes Summer Reading Challenge at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida
Jun 16, 2026 | 5:27 PM
Second Lady Usha Vance Promotes Summer Reading Challenge at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Second Lady Usha Vance visited the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida as part of her initiative to promote childhood literacy around the country.
The Second Lady met with military families and base personnel at MacDill, which serves over 11,000 military dependents who live in the Tampa area and 1,500 who live on site.
The Second Lady also visited with military children and families as part of the Blue Star Families and Walt Disney Company partnership. Blue Star Families helps military families stay connected around the world through virtual storytimes. She joined the children for arts and crafts activities, read aloud “Goodnight, Bruce” by Ryan Higgins, and shared about her Summer Reading Challenge, which launched on June 1.
“What an honor to meet many of the brave military families who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country. 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 initiatives,” said Second Lady Usha Vance.
As part of her efforts to promote literacy and summer reading, the Second Lady recently visited the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado and AcadeMir Academy Charter School East in Doral, Florida for storytimes and collaborations with teachers, coaches, and community leaders.
Additionally, the Second Lady launched a new podcast called “Storytime with the Second Lady,” where celebrities and special guests read children’s stories together. Recent guests include former Nascar driver Danica Patrick, actor Cheryl Hines, Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, Inter Miami CF Soccer Player Ian Fray, and her mother, Dr. Lakshmi Chilukuri.
For information about the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge please visit www.wh.gov/read. To tune in to “Storytime with the Second Lady,” visit YouTube or Spotify.
