A Celebration of Reading
A Celebration of Reading is our signature fundraiser. The unique program features bestselling authors who share their stories. Proceeds from the event fund literacy programs through the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Mrs. Bush personally created the event to shine the light on the importance of literacy and to celebrate the authors who educate, enrich, inspire, enthrall, entertain, and transform us through their books. The event has become one of Houston’s largest and beloved charity events, raising funds to provide vital literacy programs for children and adults through the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.
2025 Author Lineup
Nate Bargatze
Nate Bargatze is a Grammy nominated stand-up comedian, selling out shows and breaking venue attendance records with more than 1.2 million tickets sold on his The Be Funny tour. Bargatze is also a director and producer and the host of his weekly podcast, Nateland. He has appeared on many late-night television shows, including hosting SNL twice.
Bargatze has produced three Netflix specials, The Tennessee Kid, The Stand-Ups, and Greatest Average American, the latter of which received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. Bargatze’s new book, Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from A Simpler Mind, in which he talks about life as a non-genius, will be released in May 2025.
H.W. Brands
H. W. Brands is a New York Times bestselling author of 30 books on American history and holds the Jack S. Blanton, Sr. Chair of History at University of Texas at Austin. The First American and Traitor to His Class earned him nominations for the coveted Pulitzer Prize. Brands’ latest book, America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War, sheds light on a crucial tipping point in American history and the making of a legendary president.
The book details the fierce debate over America's role in the world in the runup to World War II through its two most important figures: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who advocated intervention, and his isolationist nemesis, aviator and popular hero Charles Lindbergh.
Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer is an Emmy-winning actor, producer, director, and author with a career spanning over three decades in television, film, and theatre. He has earned six Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, a SAG Award, and 18 Emmy nominations. Grammer is globally known for his iconic portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane, a role he played across Cheers, Frasier, and Wings for over 20 years. He is currently producing and starring in the Frasier revival streaming on Paramount+.
Grammer has authored two books, So Far and Bitter Brew on audible. In his upcoming book, Karen: A Brother Remembers, Grammer delves into the deeply personal story of his sister, Karen, who was brutally murdered at the age of 18 and shares his most personal memories, not only of her death, but of her life as well.
Victoria Christopher Murray
Victoria Christopher Murray is the bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including the New York Times instant bestsellers, The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, both co-written with Marie Benedict. Her latest novel, Harlem Rhapsody, is a gripping narrative about an extraordinary woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance by discovering the literary voices that would inspire the world.
Murray has received numerous awards including the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award, eleven African American Literary Awards and five NAACP Image Award nominations. Five of her Seven Deadly Sins novels have been turned into Lifetime movies and The Personal Librarian has been optioned to become a mini-series. With more than three million books in print, Victoria is one of the country’s top African American contemporary authors.
Special Performance: Texas A&M Singing Cadets
Nicknamed "The Voice of Aggieland", the Texas A&M Singing Cadets is one of the oldest collegiate singing organizations in the world, having been touring for 109 seasons and rooting out of a glee club founded on the A&M campus in 1893. Texas A&M University is also the location of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, thus holds a special place in the hearts of the Bush family.
2025 Title Sponsor Recognition
We also wish to give special thanks to Phillips 66 for serving as Title Sponsor of A Celebration of Reading for the 10th year in a row. Their incredible commitment has truly sparked a decade of difference-making for which we are deeply grateful.
2025 Celebration of Reading Sponsors
Title Sponsor
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
ConocoPhillips
Gail & Greg Garland
John P. McGovern Foundation
Stavis Wealth Transfer Solutions
Gold Sponsors
Enbridge
ExxonMobil
H-E-B
Jakel/Duncan/Frishman/Ulrich & Trevino/Vincent
Laurie & Mark Lashier
Tenenbaum Jewelers
Stephanie & Frank Tsuru
Silver Sponsors
Chevron Phillips Chemical
Comcast
The Consulate General of the State of Qatar
Terri & Greg Ebel
Sarah & Will Farish/Mary & Dennis Johnston
Hess Corporation
The Hobby Center Foundation
Tami & Thomas Jorden
Elizabeth & Drayton McLane
Satya & Naveen Pandrangi
Bronze Sponsors
Toni Beck & Bill Yardley
Ginger Blanton & Regina Rogers
Cathy & Joe Cleary
Patricia & Sig Cornelius
Deloitte/Chronis/Yee
Julie Dill
EOG Resources
Ernst & Young
Sidney Faust/Betty & John Hrncir
Cherie & Jim Flores
Fayez Sarofim & Company
Freeport LNG
Terri & John Havens
HCA Houston Healthcare
Susan & Earl Hesterberg
Light Charitable Trust
Janice S. McNair
Memorial Hermann
Marsha Montemayor
Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation
John L. Nau, III
Phillips Family Foundation
Beverly & Jim Postl
Scholastic
Sue Smith
Strake Foundation
John Tobola & Dolores Cavatore
Quanta
Walters & Kazmann Families
Ward & Ames Special Events
Pearl Sponsors
Ann & Ben Clayton
Rosanette Cullen
Pat & Lon Edwards
Lesha & Tom Elsenbrook
Courtney & Zac Harmon
Julie & Keith Little
Anne McClellan, Ed.D.
Whitney & Matt Anderson
Shayna Andrews
Susan K. Bruch/The Joan and Marvin Kaplan Family Charitable Foundation
Gina & Joe Carroll
Emily Clay
Alice & Keith Mosing
Roxann & Tim Neumann
Nathalie & Charles Roff
Ruth J. Simmons
Colette & Minor Taylor
The Peter R. Coneway Family Foundation
Legacy Sponsors
Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation
Boardwalk Pipelines/Stanley C. Horton
Bessemer Trust Company
Minnie & Ed Cappel
Martha & Mark Carnes
CenterPoint Energy
CITGO Petroleum Corporation
Jess & Cary Dunham
The Evans & Portela Family
Jay & Todd Fairley/Jane & Rick Jones
Julie & Ron Finck
Lily & Charles Foster/Pat & David Jones
Lisa & Ray Garcia
George & Barbara Bush Foundation
Givens Family
Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Joanie & Don Haley
HCA Houston Healthcare West
Janet Horton
Houston Methodist
Insperity
Jacob Jabs/American Furniture Warehouse
Keith Wing Builders
Terri Lacy & Jim Baird
Lang Family Foundation
Legacy Community Health
Mary Lynn Marks
Million Dollar Book Club
Kevin Mitchell
Sally & Charles Neblett
Oxy
Melissa Patin & Cathy Green
Perry Homes Foundation
PNC
Mary Ellen & Scott Prochazka
Eric Romero & Alicia Calhoun
PSA Lighting & Controls
Christin Stewart
Y. Ping Sun & David Lebron
Tarantino Properties
University of Houston - ACES Institute
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Karla & Greg Vesey
Jen & Brian Wilson
A Celebration of Reading 2024
Following the 30th Anniversary of A Celebration of Reading at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, KPRC 2 partnered with the Foundation to produce a special broadcast with exclusive author interviews and Foundation highlights.
A Celebration of Reading Community Impact
26M
Dollars Raised Since 2013
15,000+
Attendees Since 2013
24,500+
Households Watched Televised Program in 2024
What people are saying…
“It has been an honor and a privilege to collaborate with the Bush family for the past 29 years to produce A Celebration of Reading in Houston and its first 10 years in Dallas and D.C. We have witnessed firsthand extraordinarily talented authors and entertainers give freely to make the event spectacular, and applaud the unwavering commitment of the Foundation for enforcing Barbara Bush’s mission of literacy for all.”
— Danny Ward & Nancy Ames, Founders - Ward & Ames Special Events
“Phillips 66 has been proud to serve as title sponsor of A Celebration of Reading for the past eight years – a unique, inspiring charity event that highlights the important cause of literacy. We always look forward to the uplifting celebration and its outstanding lineup of bestselling authors.”
— Mark Lashier, President and CEO of Phillips 66
A Celebration of Reading Over the Years
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Power of Literacy Luncheon
The 9th Annual Power of Literacy Luncheon occurred on Friday, October 25, 2024, at The Post Oak Hotel in Uptown Houston, with feature actress and New York Times bestselling author Kimberly Williams-Paisley as our distinguished keynote speaker.
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Storybook Gala
Hosted by the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s Young Professionals Group, last year’s “party with a purpose” headed to Union Station at Minute Maid Park on Friday, November 10th, as we journeyed Around the World with Madeline.