Laura Bush accepts a painting from Hunter Nelson, 14, a childhood cancer survivor, at the Opening Ceremony for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation's Gold Ribbon Days 2003. Mrs. Bush was the Keynote Speaker at the event, which is held annually to raise awareness and support of childhood cancer issues. Mrs. Bush offered her congratulations and support to patients, parents, doctors, nurses and medical researchers living and working every day to conquer the nation's #1 disease killer of America's children: cancer. The name of the event is derived from the Gold Ribbon, the symbol of childhood cancer awareness; the Opening Ceremony was held at the Reserve Officers Association in Washington, D.C. White House photo by Susan Sterner

Laura Bush's Education Initiative
Mrs. Bush launched her Ready to Read, Ready to Learn education initiative in February 2001 with two major goals:

Early Childhood Cognitive Development
To ensure that all young children are ready to read and learn when they enter their first classroom; and

Teacher Preparation and Recruitment
To ensure that once there, children have well-trained, quality teachers, especially in our most impoverished neighborhoods.

Ready to Read, Ready to Learn Overview
Executive Summary
Initiative Overview (pdf)