Bush family again hosts Celebration of Reading

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Mrs. Barbara Bush and former President George H.W. Bush will return to Southwest Florida for the 2009 Celebration of Reading on Feb. 13 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. For the ninth consecutive year, former Gov. Jeb Bush will host Florida's Celebration of Reading in Bonita Springs to benefit the Florida Family Literacy Initiative, which has provided grants to more than 120 family literacy programs around the state.

The fundraiser will take place at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa on Friday, Feb. 13. Former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush will join the former governor in welcoming national best-selling authors.

Individual tickets to the Celebration of Reading are available for $250 per person, which includes the Celebration dinner immediately following the reading program. The event begins at 6 p.m. Sponsorships are also available and include preferred seating, golf with members of the Bush family and other privileges.

The Family Literacy Initiative is administered by the Volunteer USA Foundation, which provides funding, training and technical assistance for literacy providers. Funds from Celebration help support 12 Family Literacy Academies located around the state to serve families who agree to work on learning English as a second language or earning their GED while their children are also enrolled in educational programming.

Founding partners of the initiative include the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Carnival Cruise Lines, Comcast Cable, DDB, Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, The South Florida Annenberg Foundation, Verizon Communications, Washington Mutual and Walt Disney World Company.

Previous grant recipients in Southwest Florida include Fun Time Early Learning Academy, The Immokalee Foundation, Collier County Housing Authority, Collier County Education Foundation, Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Shadowlawn Elementary School, Bonita Springs Literacy Council and the African Caribbean American Center.

For tickets or sponsorship information for the 2009 Celebration of Reading, contact Tina Matte, event coordinator, at 275-5758.