The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

"The home is the child's first school, the parent is the child's first teacher,and reading is the child's first subject." - Barbara Bush

Last month, in our profile of former first lady Barbara Bush, we mentioned that she is currently serving as head of the The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. The Foundation has been going strong for twenty years, helping families realize the importance of literacy and helping parents and children learn to read together by supporting the development and expansions of family literacy programs across the country. They award competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, correctional institutions, homeless shelters, schools, school districts, libraries, and community and faith-based agencies. Since 1989, they have awarded over $32 million to 723 family literacy programs in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

The Barbara Bush Foundation began awarding grants in 1990, receiving applications from all over the country. In September of that year, they awarded eleven different grants totaling over $500,000. By September 2007, the foundation had benefited over 650 programs, many of which still serve their communities today. In January 1996, the Foundation began launching statewide literacy grant programs. The first state to receive the grants was Maine. Partnering with the Maine Department of Education, the Foundation has awarded grants to 166 family literacy programs in schools and community organizations.

In February 1996, the Foundation launched another statewide program entitled "The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas" which has awarded 118 grants to programs in over 65 Texas cities. Mrs. Bush's daughter-in-law, former first Lady Laura Bush is the Honorary Chair of this initiative. The grants from this program have been given to community-based organizations, libraries, charter schools, pediatric medical clinics, Head Start and Even Start programs, as well as many others. Because of this initiative, more adults are learning English and getting their GEDs, obtaining better jobs, reading to their children, and becoming more involved in their children's school and home lives.

In 1999, the Foundation's efforts move to Florida with the "Governor's Family Literacy Initiative for Florida." Mrs. Bush's son, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, serves as Honorary Chair of this program which has awarded grants to over 151 programs throughout Florida.

In addition to the grants and statewide programs, in 1995, the Foundation started "A Celebration of Reading." The annual fundraiser, which began in Houston and is now held each year in Texas, Maryland, and Florida, features readings from best-selling authors and members of the Bush family. Proceeds benefit the foundation. Participants in the fundraiser have included Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, Reba McEntire, Patricia Cornwell, and Mary Tyler Moore among dozens of other authors.

Mrs. Bush has called literacy "the most important issue we have" and has worked tirelessly to promote the importance of not just reading, but reading as a family, during and even after her very public life. She has accredited her own family for her love of reading, saying that some of her fondest memories are of her family gathered around each other during the evenings, engrossed in their own reading.

Barbara Bush: The Bush Family Matriarch

As Americans, the Bush family has been a part of lives for the better part of three decades. While male members of the family have served as governors, vice presidents, and presidents, the women behind them served their country and became just as recognizable as their famous husbands. Today, we'll take a look back at the life of former First Lady Barbara Bush.

Much like her daughter-in-law, Barbara Pierce Bush has been one of the most well-received first ladies in American history. Her warm manner, her witty charm, and her love for others has even earned her the nickname "everybody's grandmother." Mrs. Bush was born in 1925 in Rye, New York, to Pauline and Marvin Pierce. Some of her fondest memories include swimming, tennis, and bike-riding, and it was at an early age that she developed a love for reading, which would later inspire to take on a great cause. She attended boarding school in South Carolina and it was there, at the age of sixteen, that she met George Herbert Walker Bush. The two would be engaged a year and a half later, just before he went off to war as a member of the United States Navy. Barbara Bush went on to attend Smith College but dropped out when her fiance came home from war. Two weeks later the two were married on January 6, 1945.

When the future President graduated from Yale, the two moved to Texas to begin life together. While he built a business in the oil industry and started a career in politics, Mrs. Bush took care of the couple's six children: George, Robin, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. Unfortunately, life took a turn for the worse when the couple's daughter, Robin, was just three years old; she died from a battle with leukemia. But Mrs. Bush insists the experience helped "love every living human more."

During President Bush's political career, Mrs. Bush was always at his side. Her friendly, likable manner helped win over both the voters and the press. When Bush became Vice President under President Ronald Reagan, Mrs. Bush decided to take on literacy as her special cause, calling it "the most important issues we have" as Americans. Mrs. Bush donated much of her time to the cause and eventually became the Honorary Chairman of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She has also been involved with various other issues including AIDS, homeless, work with the elderly, and school volunteer programs. During her time as First Lady, Mrs. Bush was also known for being seen with Millie, her English Springer Spaniel, and even wrote a children's book about the dog.

Since leaving the White House in 1993, Mrs. Bush has remained a public figure. She openly supported her son's bid for President and has been present at many of his events. She has been inducted several women's fraternities, and has had at least five elementary and middle schools named for her. She currently serves on the boards for the Mayo Clinic and AmeriCares and heads the Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy.

She and the former President split their time between their home in Houston, Texas and Kennebunkport, Maine.

Women of the GOP Weekly Round-Up

Lots of great Conservative and Republican women in the news this week. Here is your weekly round-up!

- Former First Lady Barbara Bush appeared on "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren this week to discuss a number of topics including her health (she recently had open heart surgery), a cause that's very dear to her: literacy, and why her family (particularly her most famous son) likes to "oink" at her. You can watch the video at FOXNews.com. Stay tuned, Women of the GOP will be profiling Mrs. Bush later this week!

- The usually brash Ann Coulter softened her tone this week to eulogize her mother, the late Nell Coulter. Mrs. Coulter died last week. After reading the piece, it's easy to understand who influenced Coulter's very political life and it seems as though the two women had a very deep admiration for each other.

- A few weeks after a fake website claiming to be Governor Sarah Palin's legal defense fund popped up, it looks as though an official website for the Governor Sarah Palin Legal Expense Fund is now available and taking donations. According to the website, the state of Alaska has spent over $1 million and the Governor has spent over half a million dollars defending herself against frivolous political attacks.

- Love her or hate her, Meghan McCain knows how to make headlines. This week, McCain filled in for Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View."

- Women of the GOP favorite Dana Perino has a new job. Public relations firm Burson-Marsteller hired Perino to be their "chief issues counselor." In that position, she will help the firm build their "media and issues capabilities and provide senior counsel to clients." In other Perino news, the former White House Press Secretary appeared on CBS News' "Washington Unplugged" on Friday to talk about the news of the day. The Chicago Tribune has the video.

Laura Bush Part 2: Life Before Washington DC

Laura Lane Welch Bush was born in Midland, Texas, on November 4th, 1946, to Harold and Jenna Welch. An avid reader and advocate for literacy, some of her fondest memories from her childhood come from reading with her parents. Mrs. Bush has said,

"I learned [how important reading is] at home from my mother. When I was a little girl, my mother would read stories to me. I have loved books and going to the library ever since. In the summer, I liked to spend afternoons reading in the library. I enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie books and Little Women, and many others... Reading gives you enjoyment throughout your life."

Mrs. Bush grew up in Midland and attended Southern Methodist University. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education and went on to teach elementary school in Dallas and Houston. She would later earn a degree in Library Science from the University of Texas and work as a librarian. She has often said her time as a teacher and librarian helped her realize how important reading truly is.

The future first lady would not meet her husband until 1977, at a barbecue. They were married later that year and their twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna arrived four years later, in 1981. She would spend the next few years raising her daughters, campaigning for her father-in-law, President George H. W. Bush, and volunteering to work with babies with AIDS.

When George W. Bush decided to run for Governor of Texas in 1994, Mrs. Bush originally resisted, insisting she was not interested in politics. But Mrs. Bush's transition to First Lady of Texas was seamless. She dove into the role, becoming a champion for several important causes. She was an advocate for literacy and several children's causes. She began "Take Time For Kids" an awareness campaign to educate parents and caregivers; she urged the people of Texas to establish family literacy programs. She established "Reach Out and Read, " a pediatric reading program and "Ready to Read," an early childhood education program. Mrs. Bush raised money for public libraries and established the Texas Book Festival. She focused on helping abused and neglected children through the establishment of "Rainbow Rooms" and the "Adopt-a-Caseworker" Program. She also helped raise Alzheimer's and breast cancer awareness.

In 1999, when then Governor George Bush announced that he would run for President, Mrs. Bush has said she joked to her husband that it was okay as long as she never had to give a speech. Fortunately, she wasn't true to her word. At the 2000 Republican National Convention, Mrs. Bush gave a speech that would put her in the national spotlight and give the country a glimpse at the elegant woman from Midland, Texas. Laura Bush would go on to become, not just First Lady, but a leader and role model for women and people all over the world.

Laura Bush Part One: First Lady with Class

For eight years, we watched First Lady Laura Bush's every move. Whether she was at her husband, President George W. Bush's, side or involved in her own endeavors, we watched a woman with class, style, and grace become a role model for women all over the world. Here is a brief look at her time as First Lady of the United States.

It's no surprise that Laura Bush left Washington DC with one of the highest approval ratings of any first lady (82%). A champion of health and education issues, both here in the United States and abroad, it seemed as though Mrs. Bush was well received anywhere she went, by people from all walks of life. She has been praised for her humanitarian efforts, admired for her positive attitude, and credited with helping make President Bush into the leader he has been for the last eight years.

A former teacher, librarian and avid reader, Mrs. Bush began work on various education and child development initiatives almost as soon as her husband was elected President.She served as honorary ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade and has spoken at lengths about the importance of reading and literacy. Through her position with the U.N., she traveled to poor nations to witness and become an advocate for how literacy helps fight poverty. Together with the Library of Congress, she started the annual "National Book Festival" After September 11th, the First Lady spoke out to families to help them parent through the tragedy and composed open letters to students,

We need to reassure our children that they are safe in their homes and schools. We need to reassure them that many people love them and care for them, and that while there are some bad people in the world, there are many more good people.

Mrs. Bush didn't take her role as one of the most powerful women in the world lightly. She became an important advocate for many women's issues, especially health issues. Working with The Heart Truth campaign, she lead the federal government's effort to inform women that heart disease is not just a "man's disease."

She also became an advocate for breast cancer, working with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and by helping Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research of the Americas gain international support. Mrs. Bush's involvement with women's and health issues didn't stop at the border. She often traveled abroad, spreading HIV/AIDS awareness. In November 2001, she gave the weekly presidential radio address, taking the opportunity to speak up for the women of Afghanistan and in 2002, spoke directly to the people of Afghanistan on behalf of women's rights

White House Press Secretary, Ari Fleischer once said that Mrs. Bush is "more popular and welcome in many parts of the country than the president." But Mrs. Bush always stood behind her family, including her twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, and her husband. In 2006, in an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace, Mrs. Bush disagreed that people were losing confidence in her husband,

Well, I don't think they are. And I don't really believe those polls. I travel around the country, I see people, I see their response to my husband, I see their response to me. There are a lot of difficult challenges right now in the United States... All of those decisions that the President has to make surrounding each one of these very difficult challenges are hard. They're hard decisions to make. And of course some people are unhappy about what some of those decisions are. But I think people know that he is doing what he thinks is right for the United States, that he's doing what he — especially in the war on terror what he thinks he is obligated to do for the people in the United States, and that is to protect them...

Mrs. Bush has also said that "history" will be the judge of her husband's legacy, but I think we can all agree that history will not be the judge of Laura Bush's legacy. Mrs. Bush's tenure as first lady will be and already has been proven more accomplished and has been carried out with more class than any previous First Lady in recent history.

Check back tomorrow as Women of the GOP takes a look back at Laura Bush before she became First Lady.