My mom is known as the "First Lady of Literacy" and over the years has been a champion for many literacy-related causes across the country. The principal focus of her national foundation has been family literacy and, as such, this Family Literacy Month is a celebration of Barbara Bush and thousands of others nationwide dedicated to promoting family literacy.  

Barbara Bush has always understood that learning starts and is reinforced at home. We didn't discuss literacy in our home, but mom used our home environment to practice great literacy development for her children. She frequently read to us, spoke to us using words that developed early vocabulary, and encouraged us to speak in clear sentences and to write thank-you notes. 

Each year the nonprofit organization Children at Risk seeks to award an individual or organization who has made exceptional strides in guiding children to find success in their futures with the Accolades Award. The individual chosen for this honor is a person who "has acted selflessly to directly benefit and improve the lives of children." This year the organization chose Mrs. Barbara Bush, the Foundation's visionary, as the Accolades Award recipient. Children at Risk is guided by the mission to drive change for children through research, education and influencing of public policy. As a champion of literacy on a national scale and in the Houston community for over 25 years, Mrs. Bush has made groundbreaking changes by increasing the level of awareness of this issue. She has impacted many families through the programs funded by the Foundation.

To become a MENtor, please contact Amber at [email protected] or by phone at 346-212-2310.