Former First Lady Laura Bush Speaks at Educational First Steps Inaugural “One Childhood, One Chance” Luncheon
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) November 20, 2013 -- Former First Lady Laura Bush addressed attendees at the Educational First Steps inaugural "One Childhood, One Chance" Luncheon on Wednesday, November 6 at the Belo Mansion. The luncheon raised funds for Educational First Steps, a non-profit organization that helps create early learning centers of excellence for the children and communities that need them most.
A former elementary school teacher in inner-city schools and a champion for early childhood education, Mrs. Bush addressed over 400 attendees as the Keynote Speaker at the luncheon. Mrs. Bush shared her passion for education and literacy, highlighting her work in the field especially during her husband's presidency. She emphasized the critical importance of providing access to quality early childhood education for impoverished young children in communities across our country. Educational First Steps works to provide access through a unique, tested and consistent program of teacher training, mentoring and classroom academics and social interactions.
John Breitfeller, Executive Director of Educational First Steps, hosted a question and answer session following Mrs. Bush's address. Mr. Breitfeller stated, “Educational First Steps works with over 90 day care centers in some of North Texas’ most impoverished neighborhoods. Visitors to Educational First Steps centers will see that quality early childhood experiences for those in poverty are not only possible, they're already happening in many neighborhoods of North Texas. Where there used to be baby-sitting, there are now nationally accredited preschools, whose 'graduates' outperform their peers through the early elementary grades, because of Educational First Steps."
Funds raised at the luncheon will provide even more children of the working poor with the tools they need to succeed in school and in life.
Educational First Steps thanks our luncheon sponsors:
$25,000: Jennifer and Jon Mosle, Charles C. Munson, Mona and Dave Munson, David Munson, Jr., The Neiman Marcus Group, Margaret and Jaime Spellings Charitable Fund
$15,000: Lydia and Bill Addy
$10,000: Beth and Jim Gold
$5,000: American Airlines, Rita Sue and Alan Gold/Mary Lee and Michael Broder, Rachel Goldberger and Shawn Orme, Rucker & Co., Southern Botanicals, Julie and Trem Smith, Target Corporation
$2,500: Linda and Bob Appel, Susan and Jim Baldwin, Nancy and John Breitfeller, Kelly Compton, Joshua Curlett, Dr. and Mrs. Henry Estess, Barbara and Dan Garton, Gayle Johansen, Lisa and Peter Kraus, Kathryn Lake, Barbara and Jim McDermott, Susan and Patrick McGee, Katherine and Eric Reeves, Neall Rose, Nancy and Jim Skochdopole, Jane and Douglas Taber, Michele Valdez and Gary Kennedy, CiCi and Giffen Weinmann, Linda and Robert Westerberg, Joyce and Linus Wright.
$1,500: Debbie and Marc Andres/ Julie and Mike Weinberg, Marla and Mike Boone, Ruth Ann and Mark Dunn, Betsy and Richard Eiseman, Julie and David Fields, Kristi and Bill Francis, Frost Bank. Lizzy Rosenberg Greif, Libby and David Hunt, Laurie and David Judson Judson /Wendy and Marc Stanley, Lillian and Brett Kirstein, WayPoint Health Care Advisors, Leslie and Bob Krakow, Mary Ann and Bob Marshall, Marcia and Bill Rafkin,, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, Catherine and Will Rose, Lizzie Routman, Georgia Scaife, Carolyn and Steve Swann, Carolyn Westerberry
$1,000: Tom Luce, Ann and Michael Ochstein Philanthropic Fund
Jim Richardson, Educational First Steps, http://www.educationalfirststeps.org, +1 (214) 824-7940, [email protected]
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