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Honored With a Special Performance by Homeless Youth and Broadway Star
Calling Covenant House a great example of American generosity, Former First Lady Laura Bush accepted the Covenant House Beacon of Hope Award on behalf of herself and former First Lady Barbara Bush before an audience of 1,000 at the Rose Hall Home of Jazz Theatre at Lincoln Center.
“My mother-in-law introduced me to the work of Covenant House many years ago, and this award means so much to both of us,” said former First Lady Laura Bush.
Your mission in 21 cities helping 70,000 children each year is so important and I urge everyone to look at the work of Covenant House and do what you can to support the young people who come here.
“Three generations of the Bush family have been among our most important allies in combating homelessness among young people,” said Kevin Ryan, President of Covenant House. “First Lady Barbara Bush has visited with Covenant House supporters and kids across the United States. First Lady Laura Bush believes in education as the pathway to opportunity and has raised millions of dollars for literacy projects across the world. And through her support as a Covenant House board member and founder of the Global Health Corps, Barbara Pierce Bush continues the Bush tradition of transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people.”
The evening featured a taped message from former First Lady Barbara Bush. “How I wish I could be with you ,” she said, “but how lucky you are to have the younger, prettier Barbara Bush with you tonight. It is an honor to accept this award with Laura. For 38 years Covenant House has been helping lost children without any expectation of anything in return, providing the basic necessities like clothing and shelter but also providing love and hope. My thanks to the volunteers, staff and supporters of Covenant House who are making a wonderful difference in our country and the world. Each of you are beacons of hope or as my husband would say "points of light" and you deserve this award.”
The Night of Broadway Stars gala featured a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for homeless youth at Covenant House to perform for First Lady Laura Bush and with some of Broadway’s greatest stars. (See NY Times story and video and follow the journey of Angela, one of our kids who performed on stage.)
The Night of Broadway Stars was hosted by renowned composer and lyricist Neil Berg, whose credits include The Prince and The Pauper, Grumpy Old Men and 100 Years of Broadway, now the number one Broadway touring concert in the United States.
Joining Berg were six young people currently living at Covenant House, 40 members of the world-renowned Newark School of Performing Arts, and Broadway stars Rita Harvey, Capathia Jenkins, Darius deHaas, Craig Schuman, Stephanie Block, Sophia Ramos, and Bev and Kirby Ward.
