jenna in houston

Jenna Bush Hager heads to Houston for Junior League education event

Jenna Bush Hager will headline the Junior League of The Woodlands event.

One of America’s favorite faces is headed to Houston for a smart event. Jenna Bush Hager, co-host of NBC’s morning show Today with Hoda and Jenna, will serve as keynote speaker for the 2022 IMPACT event, the Junior League of The Woodlands announced.

Hager will headline the event on Saturday, March 5. Admission to the virtual program is free and open to the public. Participants must register here by Friday, March 4 to receive login information.

Aside from her hosting duties, Bush Hager is also a six-time bestselling author, a leader of the TODAY book club, #ReadWithJenna, and an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine. She plans to share her personal experiences as a teacher, humanitarian aid worker, and correspondent, according to a press release.

A former teacher in Washington D.C. charter school, Hager works with UNICEF in effort to prevent childhood deaths. She has co-authored two children’s books with her mother, former First Lady Laura Bush.

Additionally, she penned the novels Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope inspired by her service with UNICEF, Sisters First a memoir co-authored with her sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, about growing up in the White House.

Most recently, she released Everything Beautiful In Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss, a tribute to her grandparents, George HW Bush and Barbara Bush.
In April, Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush will co-headline A Celebration of Reading for the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.

The IMPACT program is a partnership between the Junior League of The Woodlands and more than a dozen school districts and numerous private schools.

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a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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