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At literacy fundraiser, Jenna is the star Bush BOOKS: Barbara, George H.W. and granddaughter top Reading Dallas event 08:23 AM CST on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 By ALAN PEPPARD / The Dallas Morning News A constellation of best-selling authors joined Barbara and George H.W. Bush at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on Monday night for A Celebration of Reading Dallas. But the crowd at the literacy fundraiser wanted Jenna. First daughter Jenna Bush was there to read from her new book, Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope. When the younger Ms. Bush took the stage in a sleeveless red dress, there was a momentary epiphany. That face, a pleasing amalgam of her parents, is as familiar as any movie star's. But who has heard her speak? For the record, she sounds like a Memorex version of her mother with a notable exception. Laura Bush gives the impression of a woman with things to say who restrains herself. Her daughter, Jenna, on the other hand, is youthful ebullience personified. Each author mentioned Barbara Bush's 10-minute rule for speakers. Ms. Bush was not about to push her grandmother. "I'm a granddaughter," Jenna explained. "And she'll definitely say to me what she wanted to say to everyone else." With that, she read a moving chapter about an HIV-positive teen mother she met while working for UNICEF in Latin America. As many guests wiped away tears, former President Bush said, "I used to worry about following Barbara; now I have to worry about following the grandkids." No. 41 read a piece he wrote for FYI magazine giving 10 tips to former presidents. First, on your successor's inauguration day, get out of town. "Go directly to Marine One without passing go," he said. Once aboard Air Force One for the last ride, enjoy it. "Lie down on the bed in the president's cabin," he said. "Seat 34E on the commercial airlines is quite different." When walking the dog, a president should be patient with the neighbor who chides, "Why didn't you tell those Israelis and A-Rabs they don't get another dime of our taxpayers' money unless they straighten up and fly right?" "Smile pleasantly," Mr. Bush advised. Previous speaker Chris Gardner doesn't look much like Will Smith, but his No. 1 best-selling memoir inspired Mr. Smith's movie The Pursuit of Happyness. Rather than read from his book, Mr. Gardner spoke extemporaneously. He revealed that poet Maya Angelou was so impressed with his story, she told him: "Boy, this book isn't even about you. It's about every father who had to be a mother and every mother who had to be a father and everybody who had a dream that wouldn't quit." "When Dr. Maya Angelou says something like that to you," Mr. Gardner said, "there's only one answer: 'Yes, ma'am.' " Then came the stunning 6-foot former MSNBC.com columnist Jeannette Walls. It was hard to believe she was talking about herself when she read about her poverty-plagued, ugly-duckling childhood. Her memoir, The Glass Castle, has spent 94 weeks on The New York Times' best-seller list and is being made into a film. "I had what my mom called 'distinctive looks,' " she said. Local novelist supreme Sandra Brown read from her latest, Play Dirty, about a disgraced Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Ms. Brown's husband usually gets first read on her manuscripts, including the steamy love scenes. "Sometimes he'll be reading and he'll say: 'Wow, Sandra this is really good. But we never did that,' " she said. "Well, honey," she tells him, "that's why they call it fiction." The record $1 million raised Monday night will be split between the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and the Barbara Bush Texas Fund.
Dallas: The sixth annual Dallas Celebration of Reading was held at the Meyerson Symphony Center on November 12, 2007. Authors for the evening included Sandra Brown, Jenna Bush, Chris Gardner, Jodi Picoult and Jeanette Walls. The seventh annual Dallas Celebration of Reading will be held Monday, November 17,2008. For information, please contact Ms. Carrie Eickenroht at
1.800.222.5652 or ceicken@dinipartners.com or click here.
Florida: The 2008 Florida Celebration of Reading will be held on Friday, February 15, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. For information please contact Ms. Tina Matte via email or phone at tmatte@gravinasmith.com and 239-275-5758.
Houston: The 2008 Houston Celebration of Reading will be held Thursday April 24,2008. Authors for the event include Jill Conner Browne, Amy Grant, Immaculee Ilibagiza, and Jim Nantz. For information, please contact Ms. Carrie Eickenroht at 1.800.222.5652 or ceicken@dinipartners.com or click here Maryland : The 2008 Maryland Celebration of Reading will be held Tuesday May 13,2008. Confirmed authors include Jim Nantz, Ron Hall and Denver Moore, Marcus Luttrell and Jeannette Walls with more to come! For Information, please contact Ms. Carrie Eickenroht at 1.800.222.5652 or ceicken@dinipartners.com or click here. History of Celebration of Reading In April 1995, the Foundation started a wonderful new tradition, an annual fundraiser, A Celebration of Reading, held at the Wortham Center in Houston, Texas, during which the new national grants were announced. The Celebration, which was hosted by President and Mrs. Bush, starred best selling authors reading aloud from their books. Proceeds went to support the National Foundation to fund programs across the country. This was the first Houston Celebration of Reading. Today 12 Celebrations later, proceeds are shared 50/50 between the Barbara Bush Texas Fund and the National Foundation, and it is held at Houston’s Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The very first Florida Celebration of Reading, hosted by Governor Jeb Bush, was held on Feburary 21,2001 at the Registry Resort & Club in Naples, Florida. Joining Governor Bush were best-selling authors Robin Cook, Susan Orlean and R.L. Stein. The first Florida Celebration raised nearly $2 million to fund family literacy programs in Florida. Since its inception seven years ago, the Florida Celebration of Reading has raised more than $9 million for family literacy programs statewide, and is now held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. The first Dallas Celebration of Reading, was held on November 25,2002, at the Anatole Hotel. President and Mrs. Bush welcomed authors Fannie Flagg, John Grisham, James McBride and Hugh Ambrose, son of late historian, Stephen Ambrose, each of whom read from their latest works. This year the sixth annual Dallas Celebration of Reading will be held on November 13, 2007 at the Meyerson Symphony Center and star authors Sandra Brown, Jenna Bush, Chris Gardner, Jodi Picoult, Jeanette Walls, and other surprise guests. Building on our Celebration tradition, the Foundation launched a new Maryland Celebration of Reading on January 23,2004 at the Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD. Hosted by Doro Bush Koch, the night featured readings by best-selling authors Barbara Bush, President George H.W. Bush, Marc Brown, James Bradley, Mary Higging Clark, Carol Higgins Clark, and Hugh Sidey. The evening was a huge success, raising nearly $1 million for the new Maryland Family Literacy Initiative. The Maryland Celebration of Reading, going into its fifth year, is now held at the Music Center at Strathmore, located in North Bethesda, MD. For a complete list of authors who have participated in the Celebrations of Reading, please click here to view our Author Alumni List. |
