Former first lady Barbara Bush celebrates 90th birthday by promoting literacy

Published November 30, 2015

Associated Press

(Office of George Bush)

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March 29, 2015: In this photo, former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush speak before the first half of a college basketball game in Houston. (AP)

May 3, 2015: In this file photo, former first lady Barbara Bush takes photos with her cell phone before the Seattle Mariners take on the Houston Astros in a baseball game in Houston, Texas. (AP)

Former first lady Barbara Bush is promoting literacy on her 90th birthday.

Her foundation and Dollar General are partnering with X Prize for a $7 million global competition to create an app to boost adult literacy skills.

Bush said Monday that parents' literacy level is a "significant predictor of their child's future educational success, influencing generations to follow."

The original X Prize was awarded 11 years ago for privately funded, suborbital flight. Since then, there have been other X Prize competitions aimed at spurring innovation.

Family members including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are in Kennebunkport for her birthday. A gala was planned for Monday evening with special guests Amy Grant, Reba McEntire and Michael W. Smith.

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