Senior Vice President Peter Waite of ProLiteracy from Syracuse is recalling the legacy of former First Lady Barbara Bush who worked tirelessly to ensure that people could have better lives. Bush died on Tuesday at the age of 92. Waite says that Bush was a stellar promoter of adult and family literacy long before her time in the White House. They met in 1982.
“She was the first ‘first lady’ and the first major celebrity to really address this, and she helped elevate the issue that we had 26 million Americans, and still very close to that number now, who are reading and writing at such low, basic skill levels that it really compromises their opportunities to get good jobs, to able to interact with their family and their community.”
Waite says Bush organized events with thought leaders to speak about the issue and how to promote and raise awareness for the need of literacy volunteers. Once in the White House, he says Bush created very significant events to address illiteracy with the support of President Bush.
“He helped to promote, along with her, new initiatives at the federal level that are still with us today and in fact still help. And they were very strong supporters of increased funding as well. So President Bush was a strong advocate, again thanks to Barbara I think in large part. He clearly made a commitment.”
Nearly two years ago Waite was invited to Bush’s 90th Birthday party in Kennebunkport, Maine.
“I attended. She was continuing to promote literacy there and talking fondly with all of us in literacy about the continued efforts that she was going to be promoting even beyond that.”
He adds that Bush came to Syracuse several times over the years and traveled to speak at hundreds of local literacy programs across the country. She was also personal friends ProLiteracy Founder and Board Member Ruth Colvin of Syracuse. The organization launched an online condolence card, so people can share their memories of Bush. You’ll find it at ProLiteracy.org.
