The Foundation returned to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, April for the 29th annual A Celebration of Reading: Family, Faith, and Friends. The signature fundraising event hosted by Neil and Maria Bush, co-founders of the Foundation, featured a notable lineup of bestselling authors to shine a light on the importance of reading in our community. This year’s event commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.

“My wife, Maria, and I are honored to present the 29th annual A Celebration of Reading this year featuring inspiring authors,” said Neil Bush. “Mom created this event to demonstrate the transformative power of reading and to call upon the Houston community to give in support of literacy programs that empower more children and adults with the skills and tools they need to reach their full potential in life and position our city to thrive socially and economically.”

The 2023 author lineup included seven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, Nelson DeMille, international and New York Times bestselling author of 30 books, Tess Gerritsen, Bush family friend and Episcopal Church Minister of over 30 years, Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., stand-up comedian and writer, Tom Papa, and first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in journalism, Isabel Wilkerson.

Proceeds from A Celebration of Reading advance the mission of former First Lady Barbara Bush’s legacy championed by the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, as well as national efforts through the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy of helping more children and adults realize their fullest potential in life and live the American Dream by learning how to read.

 Phillips 66 served as the title sponsor of A Celebration of Reading for the eighth year in a row, continuing their leadership position in the community to promote the literacy cause.

 “Thanks to the generosity of our event sponsors over the years, proceeds from A Celebration of Reading have enabled the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation to launch several reading intervention programs at schools across Houston to boost reading achievement, expand availability of literacy classes for adults, empower tens of thousands of underserved children to become book owners, and more,” said Julie Finck, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “Together, we can make great strides in addressing one of our city’s most pressing problems, low literacy.”

 The event honors the remarkable legacy of former First Lady Barbara Bush and the mission of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation to advance literacy and champion the transformational impact of reading. The festive event raised over $1.8 million to support literacy programs across Houston.

The public also tuned in to KPRC 2 on Sunday, May 7 for a commercial-free program full of entertainment, information, and inspiration through literacy. Developed in conjunction with the live charity event, the program featured interviews with bestselling authors and stories of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s impact in the community. Foundation co-founder Neil Bush, Mayor Sylvester Turner and Foundation President & CEO Dr. Julie Finck discussed the Bush legacy and literacy in Houston.

Next year, the Foundation will celebrate the 30th A Celebration of Reading, marking 30 years since First Lady Barbara Bush brought literacy to the forefront in Houston with the signature event, bringing authors, book lovers, supporters, and leaders from around the world.

Save the date and join us Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, as we celebrate the impact of literacy spanning three decades in the making!