Dear Friend,

2020 was an important year and one that tested us all in many ways.

We saw immense tragedy and anxiety, yet we witnessed some truly revolutionary innovation. We saw incredible dysfunction across large segments of our democracy, yet we witnessed heroic acts of togetherness, kindness, and charity across this country. I am sure that each of us can find examples of these contradictions in our own lives.

Yet through it all, we persevere. This hasn’t been the only test we have faced as a country, and it won’t be the last. It’s important to be reminded that we endure. The human spirit is strong. What makes it stronger is a core belief in a set of values that guide our lives.

At the Bush Center, we are grounded by the values upon which President and Mrs. Bush lead their lives: freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. We measure our work against these ideals to ensure that we are making a positive impact on this great country and the world in a manner consistent with principled leadership.

As I reflect on the Bush Center’s work over the past year, I am again amazed by the incredible team we have here and the significant progress that team has made toward advancing our mission of engaging the world by developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to address today’s pressing challenges.

Despite the difficulties presented by the pandemic, we have been able to broaden our reach across our digital platforms and connect with constituents across the country. Our policy experts have been in high demand as their work is appreciated more and more for its important thought leadership. And we have ensured the sustainability of the Bush Center far into the future by crossing our goal in the A Charge to Keep capital campaign. I am so grateful to the hundreds of generous people and institutions who have made an investment in our work.

Importantly, we embarked on a long-term strategic planning process for the Bush Institute, our major policy center, recognizing that the challenges of the next 10 years won’t be the same as those of the prior 10. We look forward to sharing our plans with you in the coming year.

What remains unchanged is our commitment to a universal vision and the ideals that direct our work. Guided by the principles of President and Mrs. Bush to celebrate the goodness of our Nation and pursue with optimism its values, the Bush Center has a clear focus heading into the future.

You can rely on the Bush Center to remain a place that seeks to influence policy, not politics. While we are rooted in our conservative heritage, we invite a diverse set of solution-oriented people to help us create lasting, meaningful change for our Nation. At our core, we believe that creating opportunity for everyone requires the advancement of free societies and democratic values.

We also believe that our Nation’s best days are yet to come. This year was a real test, and, like all tests, it helps build strength and character. At the Bush Center, we look forward with optimism. And as someone fortunate to have a front row seat to our policy work, I am confident that the values-driven approach of the Bush Center’s work will form the basis for an exciting year ahead.

In the coming year, the Bush Center will be able to make a positive impact on the topic of immigration reform. In March, we will present a special exhibition of 43 portraits of immigrants painted by President Bush, which will also be featured in his upcoming book, Out of Many, One. This is sure to garner a lot of attention.

Alongside the exhibit, we will flex every policy muscle that the Bush Center has developed over the years to advance discussions around the need for comprehensive immigration reform. We will deploy the full assets of the Bush Center and the Bush Institute to move the needle toward practical and much-needed solutions on an issue that is critical to the success of our country. Our public programming will expose many across the Nation to this issue and potential solutions. In short, we have a real opportunity to advance positive policy reform and change the narrative on the value of immigration to the success of this country.

Of course, in addition to this emphasis on immigration, we look forward to continuing our important work in education reform, veterans’ well-being, global health, women’s empowerment, and leadership development. We have a full plate here, but I am confident we can pull it off!

Thank you all for your interest in our work and for your continued support. You have been, and continue to be, a vital part of our success.

Best regards,




Kenneth A. Hersh
President and CEO, George W. Bush Presidential Center