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


 Dear Friends,

Twenty years have passed since we launched the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.  In that time, I'm proud to say that the Foundation has awarded $34 million to support the development and expansion of 773 family literacy programs in 50 states including the District of Columbia! And, I'm happy to report that many of our grantees have continued their important work with money from other sources, long after our one-year grant to them has finished.  So, thanks to the generous support of our donors and the fine work of literacy providers across the United States, thousands of parents and children who were without the most basic literacy skills can now read, write, and comprehend.

In addition, data from our family literacy programs show that adults develop the literacy skills they need to continue their education, earn a better living, take care of their health and the health of their families, participate fully in their communities, and improve their parenting abilities.  What's more, their children, who are usually at the pre-school level, are more likely to succeed in school because they have developed critical pre-reading skills and have the support of literate parents who are able to read and discuss books with them, help with homework, and participate in school activities.

The Foundation's mission has not changed from the very first day we opened our doors.  Although much progress has been made, America's literacy challenges are still great.  The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy will continue to work to make literacy a value in every family, and to support programs in which parents and children learn and read together.

Now more than ever, literacy is at the heart of America's future, and the family is at the heart of literacy.

Warmly,




Our Mission

The mission of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is: To establish literacy as a value in every family in America, by helping every family in the nation understand that the home is the child's first school, that the parent is the child's first teacher, and that reading is the child's first subject; and to break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy, by supporting the development of family literacy programs where parents and children can learn and read together. 

JUST ANNOUNCED
Now Accepting Applications:  2010 National Grant Program

Now through September 14, 2009, the Foundation is accepting applications for our 2010 National Grant Program.
Learn more about the National Grant Program HERE.
Download the application materials HERE.

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Latest News



g  Were you at this year's "Celebration of Reading Maryland"?
View the 2009 "red carpet" interviews with Doro Koch Bush, Tricia Reilly Koch, guest authors, and more HERE.
Courtesy of our friends at Comcast.


g  Foundation's Maine Family Literacy Initiative Announces 2009 Grants
A total of $445,000 in new grants will support family literacy programs statewide.    Read the press release and learn about this year's grantees HERE.


g  Upcoming Workshops Sponsored by the Maine Family Literacy Initiative
Family literacy professionals now have the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops covering a wide range of topics in the field.  All events are held in Maine.  Learn more and register HERE.
 

g Foundation's Maryland Initiative for Family Literacy Announces 2009 Grants
More than $470,000 in new grants will support family literacy programs statewide.  Read the press release and learn about this year's grantees HERE.


g 2009 National Grants Announced
The Barbara Bush Foundation is awarding more than $600,000 in new grants supporting the development and expansion of family literacy programs in seven states and the District of Columbia.  Read the press release, which lists all of this year's National Grants recipients, HERE.



Photo:  FNC


g In an Exclusive New Interview, Barbara Bush Discusses Her Passion for Literacy and Reading
On the eve of the 2009 Celebration of Reading Houston, FOX News' Greta van Susteran talks with Mrs. Bush about literacy, and with President and Mrs. Bush about their lives today.  Watch the video HERE.


g  2009 Celebration of Reading Houston a Big Success!
This year's event raised more than $1.85 million to support the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.  Many thanks to our wonderful supporters and guest authors. 
Read the Houston Chronicle article HERE.

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Upcoming Event





g  2009 Celebration of Reading Dallas
Join us on Monday, November 16, 2009 at the Meyerson Symphony Center for this year's Celebration of Reading Dallas.  Guest authors include Jeff Engel, A.J. Jacobs, and Mary Tyler Moore.
Read about this year's guest authors HERE.
Learn more and purchase tickets HERE.

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 















 




 



 

                 
             




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Mark Your Calendar...

Celebration of Reading Houston 2010
The next Celebration of Reading Houston will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010.


Celebration of Reading Maryland 2010
The next Celebration of Reading Maryland will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2010.
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