"The home is the child's first school,
the parent is the child's first teacher,
and reading is the child's first subject."




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February, 2012


Dear Friends,

Thank you for visiting the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy website.

Since our Foundation's launch 22 years ago, we have awarded over $42 million to support the development and expansion of 960 family literacy programs in 50 states including the District of Columbia. These funds include grants awarded through the National Grant Program, our state initiatives in Maine and Maryland, and the Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy, a separate 501(c)3 sister organization to the Foundation.

And, many of our programs have continued their important work with money from other sources long after our Foundation's one-year grant has finished.

Family literacy programs are so important! The staff, teachers and volunteers at these programs help parents and their children learn and read together, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Thanks to the support of our generous donors and the excellent work of literacy providers across the United States, our Foundation has truly been able to help make a meaningful difference in countless lives. However, there are still millions of adults in the United States who do not have the literacy skills they need. And so, we will continue support family literacy programs across America.

I encourage you to help!  You can volunteer at a local literacy program, or mentor a child.  Together we can all work to ensure that literacy is a value in every American home. 

Warmly,

Latest News

  • SAVE THE DATE!
    A Celebration of Reading
    Dallas/Ft. Worth to be held on
    Monday, November 12, 2012

    George P. and Amanda Bush, Co-Chairs of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Celebration of Reading invite you to join them in November. Visit the Dallas/Ft. Worth Celebration of Reading page for more information on our featured best-selling authors: Chris Kyle, Kathryn McGarr, and Sally Bedell Smith! Others to be announced soon.


  • Read More

Upcoming Events

  • Buy Your Tickets Now! Houston Celebration of Reading is April 19, 2012

    A Celebration of Reading
    Neil and Maria Bush, Chairs of the Houston Celebration of Reading join Barbara Bush in announcing bestselling authors Sandra Brown, Donovan Campbell, Harlan Coben, David Feherty and Blake Mycoskie. For more information click here.

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  • Announcing the TEXT “BARBUSH” Promotion
    for a chance to win an IPAD!

    Stay in touch with the latest news and events of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
    Every person who “connects” with us during our “Text BarBush” promotion is eligible to win a free iPad!

    For more information, please click here.

Foundation Announcements

  • Barbara Bush Foundation Awards Over $440,000 in New Grants

    March 27, 2012:  Before a national audience of hundreds of family literacy advocates and educators, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy today announced its new grant recipients for the upcoming academic year. Read the press release by clicking here.

  • The Maryland Family Literacy Initiative

    Exciting News - 2012 Grant Cycle Now Open!

    Doro Bush Koch, the newly minted co-chair of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, today announced the opening of the Foundation’s Invitation to Negotiate for Maryland nonprofits and agencies. Click here to access the application and press release.

  • The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas

    Official 2012-2013 GRANT COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT

    We are pleased to announce the Annual Grant Competition of The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas, a program of The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy. For more information, please click here.