BARBARA BUSH'S GIFT

One day, in 1994, I received a phone call from a woman in my office located in Newark, NJ. I thought I would faint when she said her name.... and thought it was fake. It was FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH. She had a Foundation and funded nonprofits which assisted individuals that needed support in literacy. Her nonprofit was totally focused on giving one grant per year ($50,000, lots of $ 20+ years ago) for families who were struggling to speak, write. and who wanted to grasp being successful in our country. I don't know how much I spoke, but I remember her asking me a lot of questions about why I was committed to what she called "FAMILY LITERACY."

As she spoke on the phone, it sounded like her. Thereafter, her assistant came on the phone and told me my nonprofit was awarded in collaboration with others in Essex County. I will NEVER EVER forget that day. It was no wonder I bought her famous pearls, and throughout that experience, wore them constantly. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE FIRST LADY, AND OMG, YOUR HONORABLE BELIEF IN HELPING PEOPLE LEARN TO BE LITERATE. That year, we held many events, one of several programs and speeches throughout Essex County, called LITERACY AWARENESS MONTH in October.

You have been strong and you were never afraid to speak your mind. I will be proud to still wear the 3 strand pearl necklace. That $50,000 helped many people when they evaluated our program. GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR PATH TO HEAVEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH in your commitment to help so many men and women feel empowered!