JENNA BUSH DRAWS ATTENTION TO HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS WITH HER NEW BOOK AT MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL
MIAMI, November 7, 2007 – The harsh reality facing millions of children living in poverty struck Jenna Bush when she visited Central and South America as part of an eight-month internship with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). She returned home inspired to write Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope.
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Bush discussed the story of Ana, a 17-year-old single mother living with HIV, before an attentive crowd at the Miami Book Fair International as part of the famous “Evening With…” series.
“Ana’s story represents the 2.3 million children around the world living with HIV and the millions more that suffer abuse in their homes, schools and communities,” said Bush.
The book captures the complex life and personality of a young woman coming of age with a serious disease, her struggle to break free of an abusive childhood and the silence surrounding her illness.
Since 2006, Bush, 25, has traveled to Argentina, Paraguay and Panama with her friend and photographer, Mia Baxter, creating photo diaries and personal narratives of women and children infected with HIV.
At the Book Fair, Bush projected her role not only as an author but more importantly as an advocate for abused and neglected children in Latin America, urging the audience to get involved in their communities and beyond.
“There are so many ways that you can make a difference in your families, schools, communities, and around the world,” said Bush. “These don’t need to be grand gestures that require travel or a lot of money. Simple signs of friendship and acceptance can often change the lives of those who live on the outskirts of society.”
Bush is the daughter of President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. She graduated from the University of Texas in 2004 with a degree in English. Prior to her UNICEF internship, she was an inner city elementary school teacher in Washington D.C.
Founded in 1946, UNICEF is a global organization that helps save, protect and improve the lives of children and women through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water, and sanitation. A portion of the book proceeds will go to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
The Miami Book Fair International is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development Authority; and the Friends of the Fair. Corporate sponsors as of this date include: Chrysler Jeep, Target, AARP, American Airlines, Bank of America, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Publix Super Markets Charities, Starbucks, Miami Parking Authority, Miami-Dade Transit, Southern Vines, Inc., Big Chef, Octavio Taylor Nurseries and The Raleigh Hotel. Media sponsors include: The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, CBS4 and MY33, Univision23 and Telefutura69, WQBA 1140AM, WAQI 710 AM, WAMR FM 107.5, La Kalle 98.3 FM, Comcast, Diario las Américas, 940 WINZ, NewsRadio 610 WIOD, The New York Times, Miami New Times, WLRN Public Radio and Television, WPBT Channel 2, 88.9 FM Serious Jazz, Plum TV, Mother & Daughter Magazine, FUEL Outdoors, Caribbean Today, Coral Gables Gazette, and the Welcome Channel.
For more information on these events contact: Miami Book Fair International at (305) 237-3258 or visit www.miamibookfair.com.
Media-only contacts: Juan Mendieta, MDC director of communications, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu; Beverly C. Rodrigues, MDC director of media relations, 305-237-3949, brodrigu@mdc.edu or Sue Arrowsmith, 305-237-3710, sue.arrowsmith@mdc.edu.