Landstar System, Inc. and Momentum Transportation are sponsoring former First Lady, Laura Bush as the keynote speaker at a seated dinner benefit for Mandarin Christian School’s capital campaign.

Mrs. Laura Bush is actively involved in issues of national and global concern, with a particular emphasis on education, health care and human rights.

As First Lady, Mrs. Bush made an historic trip to Afghanistan in 2005 and witnessed firsthand the progress achieved by the Afghan people after the fall of the Taliban regime. She visited the Women's Teacher Training Institute in Kabul, which is training women to lead classrooms that girls were once forbidden to enter.

A former teacher and librarian, Mrs. Bush convened in 2001 a Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development, providing a forum for prominent scholars and educators to share research on the best ways for parents and caregivers to prepare children for lifelong learning. She is an enthusiastic proponent of teacher recruitment programs such as Teach for America, The New Teacher Project and Troops to Teachers.

As the leader of former President George W. Bush's Helping America's Youth initiative, Mrs. Bush has listened closely to the concerns of young people, parents and community leaders throughout the country. She draws attention to proven programs that help children avoid such risky behaviors as drug and alcohol use, early sexual activity and violence, and highlights the need for a caring adult role model in every child’s life.

In September 2001, Mrs. Bush joined the Library of Congress to launch the first National Book Festival. The Festival has grown each year, drawing more than 120,000 book-lovers from across the nation to Washington, D.C. in 2008. In 1995 Mrs. Bush established the Texas Book Festival, and it continues to thrive today. In 2006 Mrs. Bush hosted leaders from around the world for the White House Conference on Advancing Global Literacy, showcasing successful, culturally aware literacy programs from a diversity of countries. Her leadership of this effort led to her current role as Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade.

Laura Bush was born in Midland, Texas, to Harold and Jenna Welch. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Southern Methodist University and a master’s degree in library science from the University of Texas.

Her memoir, Spoken From the Heart, is a New York Times #1 best seller.

“Heart2Heart” – An Evening with Laura Bush, will be a seated dinner gala of fellowship for Jacksonville community members who have a heart for educating our children. We will begin with a VIP meet-and-greet reception for Royal Ticket holders at 5:30, followed by a general reception at 6:00. Our dinner program begins at 6:30. We look forward to spending this evening with you as we enjoy the words of one of our national treasures. Thank you and God Bless!