What: 27th Annual A Celebration of Reading
When: Thursday, April 29, 2021
Where: Authors’ Luncheon – Residence of Terri and John Havens
Evening Program – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston and virtually via livestream
Hosts: Authors’ Luncheon – Maria and Neil Bush, Terri and John Havens
Evening Program – Maria and Neil Bush, Chairs of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
Benefiting: Local literacy efforts of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and national literacy efforts of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
Details: More than 340 guests gathered at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston for the 27th annual A Celebration of Reading. Additionally, approximately 200 event sponsors attended the event virtually from home. This year’s event raised more than $1.9 million to advance literacy, a cause former First Lady Barbara Bush championed for 30 years. This year’s outstanding lineup of bestselling authors included former President George W. Bush, Mark Sullivan, husband-wife duo Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser, Elin Hilderbrand, and Matthew McConaughey (virtually).
Prior to the program, guests took a walk down memory lane with a compilation of videos from over the years including a tribute to former First Lady Barbara Bush, her game plan to tackle literacy with JJ Watt and a celebration of George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush’s extraordinary life together.
KPRC Channel 2’s Dominique Sachse opened the evening by welcoming guests to the 27th annual event before turning it over to Foundation Chairs Maria and Neil Bush. The couple recognized the Former First Lady who personally created A Celebration of Reading to raise awareness and funds to advance her cause of literacy. “We must create a sense of urgency around literacy issues. Undoubtedly, the work of the Foundation to expand reading tutoring and summer literacy programs, equip underserved children with books to read at home, empower parents with the skills to support their child’s reading success at home, and boost adult literacy rates are more important now, than ever before,” noted Neil.
The Chairs then thanked Phillips 66 for serving as the Title Sponsor for the sixth year in a row, and Hushang and Shahla Ansary and Quanex Foundation for serving as Presenting Sponsors.
During the program, guests enjoyed two videos. The first highlighted the Foundation’s work on Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint, a joint plan with Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy to increase adult literacy rates and ensure more Houstonians have an equal opportunity to participate fully in our society and workforce. The second was a video on childhood literacy and the Foundation’s programs and efforts to provide access and increase exposure to books, foster a love of reading and improve lives through the power of literacy.
As President George W. Bush took the stage, he and brother Neil bantered about who was their mother’s favorite son. During his presentation, President Bush read a touching story from his latest book, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants, about Paula Rendon, the Mexican immigrant who helped raise he and his siblings. “She was the first immigrant I really knew. She came to America to better the lives of her children, but she also bettered ours,” he noted fondly. Following the reading, President Bush sat down with Dominique Sachse for an interview during which she shared the inspiration behind his book and additional stories of the immigrants his paintings and book portrays. He also shared his views on current political issues, including the need for bipartisan immigration reform and the importance of restoring DACA.
Elin Hilderbrand followed President Bush and shared her journey of becoming a writer, what motivates her and how many of her readers shared that her work has helped them get through quarantine. “Everyone deserves to spend a summer at the beach,” said Hilderbrand. Her upcoming book, Golden Girl, is set to release this June. Mark Sullivan discussed his personal struggles and his discovery of Pinot Leila’s story featured in his Amazon #1 bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky about a forgotten hero during World War II, as well as what led him to write his latest novel, The Last Green Valley which is set to release May 4. Dominique Sachse joined Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser to discuss The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker, III, their recent novel about the beloved former U.S. Secretary of State. They shared notable times spent with Secretary Baker during the book’s creation and joked that he is, “Henry Kissinger and Karl Rove wrapped into one.” Baker, Chief White House correspondent for the New York Times and MSNBC political analyst, and Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and founder of the award-winning Politico Magazine, also shared thoughts on current events and politics. Last, but certainly not least, Matthew McConaughey was also joined by Dominique for a lively prerecorded interview about his family, life and New York Times bestselling book Greenlights.
To conclude the program, Houston-area natives and finalists on Season 19 of NBC’s The Voice, John Holiday and Desz, performed together for the first time. John kicked it off with a solo rendition of his hit single “Where Do We Go”. Desz then came onstage to sign her hit single “Holy Ground”. The two ended the evening with a duet performance of “Lovely Day” by Demi Lovato.
Following the program, Neil and Maria Bush, along with Dominique Sachse, returned to the stage to wish former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, who was in the audience, a Happy Birthday with a surprise birthday cake! Baker turned 91 the day prior on April 28.
An unforgettable evening, guests left the A Celebration of Reading event, with a gift bag featuring books from featured authors.
The Foundation’s media partner, KPRC Channel 2, will broadcast a one-hour, commercial-free version of the program on Saturday, May 8 at 7 p.m. CST.
Prior to the evening program…
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation major donors and authors Peter Baker, Susan B. Glasser, Mark Sullivan and Elin Hilderbrand —along with Maria and Neil Bush, and other members of the Bush family—gathered at the beautiful, European-inspired home of Terri and John Havens for a private authors’ luncheon to kick off 27th Annual A Celebration of Reading. Amidst the sprawling grounds, the nearly 30 guests enjoyed a three-course meal catered by City Kitchen involving chilled mirliton soup with poached shrimp and dill crème fraiche followed by a choice of pan seared Red Bird Farms breast of chicken with Riesling just and crispy leeks or grilled snapper with roasted tomato coulis and lime butter. Both dishes were served with Yukon gold potato hash, sweet peppers, baby carrots, and fresh basil asparagus spears with buttermilk biscuits. For dessert, guests enjoyed new bananas foster with vanilla bean gelato, rum caramel sauce and cinnamon plantains.
Neil Bush, co-chairman of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, opened the luncheon by expressing his gratitude to attendees for their continuous support of the Foundation and its mission to improve lives through the power of literacy. During his heartfelt remarks, he also conveyed his mother’s belief that “If a person cannot read or write, they cannot possibly reach their fullest potential.” Neil thanked the Havens for hosting the event and the authors for giving freely of their time, particularly amid the pandemic, to participate in A Celebration of Reading.
Following lunch, John Havens gave guests a personal tour of the grounds, including the 200-year-old chapel imported from Chateau de Bruneaux in Firminy, France.
Luncheon
Guests Include: Featured Authors for 2021 A Celebration of Reading Authors’ Luncheon and Program – Peter Baker, Susan B. Glasser, Mark Sullivan and Elin Hilderbrand; Maria and Neil Bush; Terri and John Havens; Jennifer and George Wilson; Melanie and Jerry Martin; Betsy Sullivan; Iris and Bill Griffiths; Lisa and Mark Jakel; Julie Baker Finck and Ron Finck; Caroline and Paul Cornett; Pierce Bush; Eddie Cohen; Rebecca Skiba; Kathy Sauvé; Deborah Stavis.
Evening
Guests Include: Featured Authors for 2021 A Celebration of Reading Authors’ Program – President George W. Bush, Mark Sullivan, husband-wife duo Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser, Elin Hilderbrand; Neil and Maria Bush; Julie Baker Finck and Ron Finck; Susan Baker and Secretary James A. Baker, III; Shahla and Hushang Ansary; Al Carnrite; Joselyn Tego and Jeff Carnrite; Cathy and Joe Cleary; Melanie and Jerry Martin; Dominique Sachse Florescu and Nick Florescu; Sidney Faust; Betty and John Hrncir; Paige Fertitta; Kathrine McGovern; Terri and John Havens; Lisa and Mark Jakel; Annette and George Strake, Jr.; Alice and Keith Mosing; Kathy and Marty Goossen; Laurie and Mark Lashier; Terri and Greg Ebel; Martha and Mark Carnes; Iris and Bill Griffiths; and Ginger Blanton.
Photo Credits: Jenny Antill (luncheon), Dave Rossman (evening program), Hung L. Truong (evening program)
About the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is a charitable organization formed by Neil and Maria Bush to carry forth First Lady Barbara Bush’s legacy in the literacy cause and to focus deeply on breaking the intergenerational cycle of low literacy in the Bush family’s hometown. Founded on Mrs. Bush’s belief, “If you help a person to read, then their opportunities in life will be endless,” the Barbara Bush Foundation’s mission is to improve lives through the power of literacy – the ability to read, write, speak clearly and think critically. The Foundation serves as the champion across the Greater Houston area for the literacy cause, raising awareness for the value and importance of literacy, mobilizing volunteers and resources to build critical capacity of community-based literacy providers, and investing in local literacy programs and services that support children and families to develop strong literacy skills for success. For more information, visit www.bushhoustonliteracy.org or follow us on Facebook at @bushhoustonlit on Twitter @bushhoustonlit and on Instagram @bushhoustonlit.
