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.

A Celebration of Reading: 30th Anniversary Author Lineup

Jean Becker

Jean Becker, who served as chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush for nearly twenty-five years. She is the editor of Pearls of Wisdom by Barbara Bush and author of the New York Times bestseller The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush’s Post Presidency. Becker’s next book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush, is set for release in April 2024. Prior to her post as chief of staff, Becker served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush and was a newspaper reporter for 10 years, including a four-year stint at USA TODAY.

Chris Bohjalian

Chris Bohjalian, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-four books, including The Lioness, Hour of the Witch, Midwives, and The Flight Attendant, which has been made into a MAX limited series starring Kaley Cuoco. His other books include The Red Lotus, The Guest Room; Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands; The Sandcastle Girls; Skeletons at the Feast; and The Double Bind. His novels Secrets of Eden, Midwives, and Past the Bleachers were made into movies, and his work has been translated into more than thirty- five languages. Bohjalian is set to release his next book, The Princess of Las Vegas, in March 2024.

Gary Gulman

Gary Gulman is one of the most popular touring comics, selling out venues nationwide including Carnegie Hall. He has been one of a few select comics to appear on every major late-night comedy program. Gulman’s five comedy specials include HBO's The Great Depresh, a highly acclaimed look at mental illness, and his new special, Gary Gulman: Born on Third Base which released on MAX in December 2023. In 2019 he appeared in the international blockbuster Joker. He has a recurring role on the Hulu comedy series Life & Beth. A product of Boston, Gulman was previously a scholarship college football player, an accountant, and a high-school teacher. Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the 80’s was released in September 2023 and is his first book.

Brad Taylor

Brad Taylor is a New York Times bestselling author of 18 books and former special forces officer. He is most popularly known for his Pike Logan series, including American Traitor, End of Days, and The Devil’s Ransom. Dead Man’s Hand, released in 2024, is a gripping thriller in which Pike Logan goes head-to-head with Vladimir Putin. Taylor retired from the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces as a Lieutenant Colonel after 21 years of service, including eight years with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, commonly known as Delta Force. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and as assistant professor of military science at The Citadel. Taylor now consults on asymmetric threats for various agencies.

A Celebration of Reading Community Impact

24M

Dollars Raised Since 2013

15,000+

Attendees Since 2013

24,500+

Households Watched Televised Program in 2023

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

2024 Sponsor Recognition

Title Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

John P. McGovern Foundation

Gold

Enbridge

ExxonMobil

Gail & Greg Garland

H-E-B

Jakel / Duncan / Frishman / Goossen / Ulrich & Trevino / Vincent

Marathon Oil

Silver

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company

Cathy & Joe Cleary

The Peter R. Coneway Family Foundation

Terri & Greg Ebel

Will & Sarah Farish / Dennis & Mary Johnston

Cherie & Jim Flores

The Hobby Center Foundation

Laurie & Mark Lashier

Elizabeth & Drayton McLane

John L. Nau, III

Sarofim Foundation

Sue A. Smith

Tenenbaum Jewelers

Stephanie & Frank Tsuru

Bronze

Air Liquide

Ginger Blanton / Elizabeth Blanton / Amber Alonso / Tracie Renfroe

Patricia & Sig Cornelius

Deloitte

The Elkins Foundation

EOG Resources

Ernst & Young

Freeport LNG

Sidney Faust / Betty & John Hrncir

Terri & John Havens

HCA Houston Healthcare

Hess

Lang Family Foundation

Light Charitable Trust

Janice S. McNair

Memorial Hermann

Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation

Beverly & Jim Postl

Quanta

Regina Rogers

Scholastic

Strake Foundation

UH ACES Institute, Dr. Anne McClellan

Walters & Kazmann Families

Ward & Ames Special Events

Pearl

Shayna Andrews

Deborah Cannon & Gloria Portela

Ann & Ben Clayton

Rosanette Cullen

Laurel & Mike D’Antoni

Patricia & Lon Edwards

Lesha & Tom Elsenbrook

HCA Houston Healthcare West

Texas Children’s Hospital

Mary Lynn & Steven Marks

Marsha Montemayor

Alice & Keith Mosing

Roxann & Tim Neumann

John Ross Palmer

Nathalie & Charles Roff

Colette & Minor Taylor

Y. Ping Sun & David Leebron

Legacy

Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation

Boardwalk Pipelines / Stanley C. Horton

Susan K. Bruch/The Joan and Marvin Kaplan Family Charitable Foundation

Maria & Neil Bush

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa

Minnie & Ed Cappel

Martha & Mark Carnes

CenterPoint Energy

Corient

Crown Castle

Jill & Brad Deutser

Julie Dill

Jess & Cary Dunham

The Evans-Portela Family

Julie & Ron Finck/Terri & Tom Williamson

Lisa & Ray Garcia

George & Barbara Bush Foundation

Greater Houston Community Foundation

Joanie & Don Haley

Harris County Public Library

Houston Methodist

Insperity

Jay & Todd Fairley / Jane & Rick Jones

Pat & David Jones / Lily & Charles Foster

Keith Wing Custom Builders

Terri Lacy & James Baird

Karla & Paul LeBlanc/Seyforth Shaw LLP

Legacy Community Health

Amy & Gentry Lee

Julie & Keith Little

Carolyn & Mike Mann

The Million Dollar Book Club

Sally & Charles Neblett

St. Luke’s Health

Oxy

PNC

Mary Ellen & Scott Prochazka

Leslie & Russ Robinson

Ruth J. Simmons

Stavis Wealth Transfer Solutions

Anthony Tarantino / Tarantino Properties

Taste of Texas Restaurant

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Karla & Greg Vesey

Woodside Energy

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