The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy

The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy was created in 1999 in response to the enormous success of A Celebration of Reading and the generous support so many Texans have given to help promote literacy across the nation. Currently the Fund administers two all-Texas grant programs: The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas, founded by former first lady Laura Bush when she was the first lady of Texas (and continues as Honorary Chair) and a separate discretionary grant program.

These grants, of up to $50,000 each, are given to help create family literacy programs by building on existing literacy programs that work with only one generation, such as children or adults, so that complete family literacy programs can be created. The grant program also funds innovative projects within existing family literacy programs, as well as replication of successful family literacy programs with new populations or in new locations. Past grantees include community-based organizations, libraries, charter schools, pediatric medical clinics, Head Start and Even Start programs, as well as other organizations. The grants are awarded to applicants who focus on reading instruction for parents or primary caregivers, reading or pre-reading instruction for their children, and parent/child reading time and activities. A successful grant application includes clearly stated objectives, along with a solid plan to measure whether or not those objectives have been achieved.