United Through Reading

I’m honored to take on Tough Mudder with Inspire Brands- Team Brambles- in support of United Through Reading. At Inspire Brands, our commitment to people and purpose extends beyond our restaurants and into the communities we serve. Military families face long periods of separation, and children often feel that distance most deeply. United Through Reading helps bridge that gap through recorded storytime, allowing service members to share their voice, presence, and love whenever their family needs connection. This challenge is a tangible way to support military children and families—helping them feel connected, comforted, and supported despite the miles apart. I’m proud to stand with an organization that strengthens families through meaningful moments of connection.

As an Army combat Veteran from Afghanistan, I know firsthand the challenges of being away from loved ones. The distance can feel overwhelming, and it's the little moments, like reading a bedtime story, that matter most. As a father, I cherish the time I spend with my children, and I want to ensure that other military families can share those precious moments too.

That’s why I’m joining my corporate team to tackle the Tough Mudder Challenge. We’re raising funds for United Through Reading, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping military families connected through shared storytime. Each donation helps provide story recording kits to service members, allowing them to read to their children from thousands of miles away.

By supporting our team, you’re helping to strengthen the bonds between military parents and their kids. Let’s ensure that no child has to wait for their parent to say "I love you" at bedtime. Thank you for standing with us and supporting our mission.

I’m honored to take on Tough Mudder with Inspire Brands- Team Brambles- in support of United Through Reading. At Inspire Brands, our commitment to people and purpose extends beyond our restaurants and into the communities we serve. Military families face long periods of separation, and children often feel that distance most deeply. United Through Reading helps bridge that gap through recorded storytime, allowing service members to share their voice, presence, and love whenever their family needs connection. This challenge is a tangible way to support military children and families—helping them feel connected, comforted, and supported despite the miles apart. I’m proud to stand with an organization that strengthens families through meaningful moments of connection.

• https://unitedthroughreading.org/
• https://www.foxnews.com/video/6387109582112?msockid=200285ef292761ca2daa92e8287160f6
• https://toughmudder.com/events/atlanta/

As I gear up for the Tough Mudder Challenge, I'm reminded of the incredible sacrifices made by service members and their families. While our brave heroes answer the call of duty, their children and loved ones face their own challenges—months apart, missed milestones, and the yearning for connection. That's why we're taking on this mud-soaked obstacle course, not just for ourselves, but for families who serve in their own powerful way.

Our corporate team is committed to raising funds for United Through Reading, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping military families connected through shared storytime, no matter the distance. Every donation we receive helps provide story recording kits to service members, allowing them to read to their kids even when thousands of miles apart. This simple act of love ensures that military children feel cherished and supported, no matter the challenges they face.

Together, we can make a real difference. Your support means the world to these families who serve. Thank you for standing with us on this journey.

I’m Trista Shinskie, and I’m proud to join my corporate team in taking on Tough Mudder to stand with the children and families who serve. While service members answer the call of duty, their kids and loved ones carry their own burden of missed birthdays, bedtime routines interrupted, and quiet moments without the person they love most. I am running through the mud so that no child has to wait for storytime.

United Through Reading helps military families stay emotionally close through the simple but powerful act of reading together. Your support will help put story recording kits into the hands of service members so they can read to their children even when they are apart. Those recorded stories become a steady voice at bedtime, a comfort during a deployment, and a bridge that keeps families connected across miles.

I believe every child deserves to feel loved and seen, no matter where their parent is serving. By supporting our team, you help strengthen literacy, soothe separation, and create memories that last a lifetime. Your gift turns muddy miles into meaningful moments for military families.

Please join me in supporting United Through Reading. Donate today to help deliver storytime to children who miss their parents and to honor the families who give so much.