FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Operational Liaison LTJG David Via and the crew of the USS Bainbridge conducted joint American-Bahamian educational engagement efforts alongside personnel from the U.S. Navy, U.S. State Department, and Bahamian government officials.
FREEPORT, Bahamas – Preface’s mission of fostering early childhood literacy across communities was well represented on the docks of Freeport Harbour this month, as Chief Operational Liaison and USN LTJG David Via worked alongside over thirty sailors from the USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) in a series of community outreach and literacy-focused education efforts in local Bahamian primary schools. The ship’s visit to Grand Bahama was part of a broader effort by American military and diplomatic personnel to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
While docked in Freeport, Via and personnel from the USS Bainbridge took time to engage in educational assistance efforts alongside primary schools in local communities, like Eight Mile Rock. With the area still recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Dorian, Via and volunteers from the USS Bainbridge helped renovate and revitalize classrooms, before ending the school day by reading selections from timeless tales like “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “Fox in Socks,” and “Cat on the Mat.” Following the day of community outreach, officials from the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas hosted a range of Bahamian leaders and government ministers onboard the USS Bainbridge for an evening celebrating American-Bahamian cooperation.
“Preface is honored to have key leaders in our organization, like LTJG David Via, who are actively engaged in national service and who work hard every single day to safeguard the American Dream,” said Jonathan “JT” Wu, Founder & Executive Director of Preface. “We couldn’t be prouder of his efforts, and the efforts of all those on the USS Bainbridge, to foster opportunity and educational access for all. Both here at home and abroad, Preface is honored to support all those who serve our country through their work defending America’s national interests – and the prospects of freedom for people around the globe.”
Wu added that Preface’s model of relational literacy engagement continues to produce positive preliminary results that will hopefully prove replicable across a wide variety of communities. With expansionary plans on the horizon, there is no doubt that Preface’s leadership looks forward to working with partners in service around the world to continue empowering the next generation.
Additional information on the USS Bainbridge’s Official Visit to Grand Bahama can be found on the official Press Release published by the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas. The information above is intended for communication purposes only and does not imply any official endorsement by the Government of the United States.
About Preface:
Founded in 2019, Preface is a public-private philanthropic initiative dedicated to fostering early childhood literacy… with a multilingual twist! Partnering with educators and community leaders, Preface empowers local high schoolers to give back to their communities and bridge opportunity gaps by fostering literacy among young ESOL students. A federally recognized 501(c)(3) organization, Preface is proudly headquartered in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Learn more at www.PrefaceProject.org.
For further inquiries, contact:
Jonathan “JT” Wu
Founder & Executive Director
Devon Naftzger
Chief Marketing Officer
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