School Days

Sports biggies return to the classroom with Neil Bush and hit the books to promote literacy

With classes now in session and National Literacy Month starting Sept. 1, what better time than now for literacy advocates to ring the school bell in promotion of reading? The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation was joined this week by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment and Phillips 66 at Walnut Bend Elementary School for a high-powered read-in.

Leading the literacy effort were Maria and Neil Bush, chairman of the Houston literacy foundation; Jamey Rootes, president of both the Houston Texans and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment; Greg Maxwell, Phillips 66 executive veep and CFO; and Paula Johnson, Phillips 66 executive veep and general counsel.

The VIPs settled in with a group of second graders to emphasize the importance of literacy and share the joy of reading. Sports biggies scrunching into the pint-sized chairs were two-time All American and Heisman Trophy finalist Charles Alexander and Dan Pastorini and Don Trull, both former quarterbacks for the Houston Oilers.

School principal Michele Dahlquist hosted the event aimed at raising awareness of National Literacy Month. The reading session was sponsored by AdvoCare Texas.

The reading "coaches" included Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation president Julie Baker Finck, HISD trustee Greg Meyers plus Phillips 66 leaders including Debbie Adams, Mike Kenney, Jonathan Rosenberg, Katie Hermeston, Catherine Schwamback and Jamie Allison.

Neil and Maria Bush share a reading moment with a young student at Walnut Bend Elementary School.

News, Shelby, AdvoCare reading event, August 2014, Neil Bush, Maria Bush

Photo by Hall Puckett, © Phillips 66 Company

Neil and Maria Bush share a reading moment with a young student at Walnut Bend Elementary School.

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Party Watch

Houston nonprofit's Storybook Gala channels classic romance

Barbara Bush Foundation Storybook Gala 2025

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lexi Sakowitz Marek, Mari Trevino Glass, Cassandra Dalton, and Adrienne Flores.

What: 2025 Storybook Gala: Romeo and Juliet

Where: Union Station at Daikin Park

The Scoop: Star-crossed lovers weren’t the only ones turning heads at the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation Young Professionals Group’s 2025 Storybook Gala.

Held at Union Station at Daikin Park, the black-tie affair brought together 300 stylish Houstonians for a night of Shakespearean splendor and a worthy cause.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lexi Sakowitz Marek, Mari Trevino Glass, Cassandra Dalton, and Adrienne Flores.

Chairs Grace Gosnell, Caitlin Rance, and Victoria Villarreal leaned into the romantic theme with a Verona-inspired backdrop, complete with balcony photo ops, giant stacked books, and live Romeo and Juliet characters roaming the room. Art Attack handled the dreamy transformation, while Kroger donated lush floral centerpieces that added extra swoon.

Guests nibbled on Aramark’s hearty Italian buffet — think Chicken Cacciatore, Shrimp Scampi, and roasted garlic breadsticks — while sipping cocktails and bidding in a high-stakes silent auction featuring a framed Blue Dog print and a presidential getaway to College Station. Monica Lunsford from 94.5 The Buzz kept the energy flowing as emcee, while George Lindsey worked his auction magic for prizes like a Rockets luxury suite and a Mister McKinney Christmas lights tour.

Honorees Stephanie and Frank Tsuru were recognized with the Lifetime Literacy Impact Award for their continued support of childhood literacy. And once paddles were raised to fund a new library for New Hope Housing, guests hit the dance floor with the Drywater Band before ending the night with mini corn dogs, fresh popcorn, and chocolate cookies.

Shakespeare would approve.

Who: Ariana and Jack Anjier, Nate Church, Grace and Tom Gosnell, Caitlin Rance, Victoria Villarreal, Julie and Ron Finck, Lisa and Mark Jakel, Megan Henson, Jeanna and Wesley Bamburg, Alexa Bode, Will Brown, Tracie and Brad Edgerly, Elizabeth Galante, Anna Gryska, Melissa Mikkelsen, Aubrey and Peyton Leatherman, JP Ramirez, Anthony Tarantino and Gabby Aparicio, Mimi and Michael Tarantino, Morgan Relyea Colt and Walker Colt, Monica and Austin Buchanan, Elizabeth Blanton, Emre Ozsut and Jordan Khalil, Sloane Andrews, Cat and Sean Tobin, Eric Aldis, Nick and Casey Carnrite, Sarah and Jon McClellan, Lexa and Anthony Borreca, and Ashley and Matthew Trauber.

fundraisers