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. His next stand-up special, Your Friend, Nate Bargatze, will premiere globally on Netflix December 24, 2024. 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 .
James McBride
James McBride is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of eight books including Miracle at St. Anna, Song Yet Sung, Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong. His landmark memoir, The Color of Water, spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list and is considered an American classic. The Good Lord Bird won the National Book Award for Fiction.
His most most recent book, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, shows us that even in dark times, love and community sustain us. McBride has been a staff writer for The Boston Globe, People Magazine, and The Washington Post, and is an accomplished musician and screenwriter. McBride is also a recipient of the National Humanities Medal.
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
Jakel/Duncan/Frishman/Goossen/Ulrich & Trevino/Vincent
Stephanie & Frank Tsuru
Silver Sponsors
Chevron Phillips Chemical
The Consulate General of the State of Qatar
Terri & Greg Ebel
Hess Corporation
Elizabeth & Drayton McLane
Satya & Naveen Pandrangi
Bronze Sponsors
Ginger Blanton & Regina Rogers
Cathy & Joe Cleary
Patricia & Sig Cornelius
Julie Dill
EOG Resources
Ernst & Young
Sidney Faust/Betty & John Hrncir
Cherie & Jim Flores
Susan & Earl Hesterberg
Light Charitable Trust
Memorial Hermann
Janice S. McNair
Marsha Montemayor
John L. Nau, III
Beverly & Jim Postl
John Tobola & Dolores Cavatore
Quanta
Pearl Sponsors
Gina & Joe Carroll
Ann & Ben Clayton
Rosanette Cullen
Lesha & Tom Elsenbrook
Givens Family
Anne McClellan, Ed.D.
Alice & Keith Mosing
Nathalie & Charles Roff
Ruth J. Simmons
Legacy Sponsors
Martha & Mark Carnes
Deloitte
Jess & Cary Dunham
The Evans & Portela Family
Jay & Todd Fairley/Jane & Rick Jones
Julie & Ron Finck
Lily & Charles Foster/Pat & David Jones
George & Barbara Bush Foundation
Givens Family
Joanie & Don Haley
HCA Houston Healthcare West
Janet Horton
Jacob Jabs
Keith Wing Builders
Lang Family Foundation
Legacy Community Health
Kevin Mitchell
Mary Ellen & Scott Prochazka
Gina Saour
Tarantino Properties
University of Houston - ACES Institute
The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center
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.