A national public charity based in washington, d.c., the barbara BUSH foundation for family literacy is dedicated to helping families and communities nationwide build brighter futures through literacy. We have been the nation's leading advocate for family literacy for more than three decades. Established by first LADY barbara BUSH in 1989, we have supported evidence-based family literacy programs in ALL 50 states and the district of columbia. Former first LADY barbara BUSH chose literacy as her life's work based on a simple, but powerful belief: "if more people could read, write, and comprehend, we would be that much closer to solving so many of the problems plaguing our society." research continues to prove that she was right, linking literacy to some of today's most pressing concerns, including economic growth, public health and safety, and civic engagement. YET today, more than half of u.s. Adults LACK proficiency in literacy, reading below the adult equivalent of a sixth-grade level. About 43 million americans - 28% of u.s. Adults - read below the equivalent of a third-grade level. Young readers are struggling as well: 69% of our nation's fourth graders read below grade level. This crisis is costly a gallup study commissioned by the barbara BUSH foundation determined that the u.s. Could be losing $2.2 trillion - or 10% of GDP - annually due to low adult literacy rates. It is also multigenerational, as research shows that a parent's literacy level is the single greatest predictor of their child's future academic success, outweighing other factors including neighborhood and family income. We work to address our nation's literacy challenge by providing high-quality programs and resources that help families across the country build literacy skills, as well as driving multisector engagement in literacy issues through research and education initiatives. These efforts are detailed in our program services accomplishments.