"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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November, 2011


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

  • Thank you for a Successful Dallas Celebration!

    George P. and Amanda Bush, Co-Chairs of the November 7 Dallas Ft. Worth Celebration of Reading say thank you for making this year's event a great success, raising nearly $1M for family literacy programs in Texas and across the nation!


  • Read More

Upcoming Events

  • TCALL is now accepting applications for the
    2012-2013 Barbara Bush Doctoral Fellowship in Family Literacy
    Apply by Feb. 6, 2012

    Barbara Bush Fellowships at Texas A&M University
    The Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) announces the availability of up to $100,000 in Barbara Bush Fellowships for the 2012-2013 academic year. Up to four Barbara Bush Fellowships of $25,000 each will be awarded for research on topics relevant to Family Literacy. For more information please click here.

  • SAVE THE DATE! 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 and Blake Mycoskie. For more information click here.

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Foundation Announcements

  • - Message from the Executive Director -

    Dear Friends and Colleagues,

    At the end of December 1988, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy was established as a component fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. I have had the honor and great pleasure of being Executive Director since that day, working in partnership with our extraordinary Honorary Chair, Barbara Bush, our wonderful staff and consultants and hundreds of literacy providers across the United States. This work has been a great joy!

    However,the time has now come for me to move on to other things. Working to help build a more literate world will certainly be part of my future, just as it is for so many of you.

    Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2012 and much success in all of your important work.

    Warmly,

    Benita Somerfield

  • The Maryland Family Literacy Initiative

    Exciting News about our Upcoming Grant Cycle!

    A new grant cycle for the Maryland Initiative will be opening soon. Opening and closing dates for the 2012-13 grant cycle will be posted here within the next few weeks. Please note that for the first time, successful programs that were previously funded by the Maryland Initiative are being actively encouraged to apply!. Please watch this website for further details on when and how to apply.

  • 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.

  • The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy 2012 National Grant Competition

    The application process for the 2012 National Grant Competition is now closed. Grant recipients will be announced in April of 2012. Learn more about the program.