Once Upon a Fiesta: Celebrating 10 Years of Legacy’s Little Readers

Books are more than pages and ink—they’re seeds of imagination, learning, and opportunity—and on Sunday, May 4, 2025, Legacy Community Health invites the community to celebrate just that. The Legacy’s Little Readers Fiesta, presented by H-E-B, will be chaired by H-E-B’s Lisa Helfman and hosted by Paige Fertitta and Family. This joyful evening will honor a decade of nurturing young minds through the gift of books—and look ahead to the next chapter.

This year’s event will also pay tribute to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, a devoted partner in the mission to promote literacy for all. In addition to recognizing the Foundation’s impact, the evening will celebrate what would have been First Lady Barbara Bush’s 100th birthday, commemorating her legacy as a passionate advocate for reading and education.

All proceeds from the evening benefit Legacy’s Little Readers, a program that has already placed nearly 300,000 books into the hands of children through Legacy clinics.

Legacy’s Little Readers: A Prescription for a Brighter Future

At every well-child visit from 6 months to 12 years old, our young patients get a brand-new, age-appropriate book and a “prescription to read” from their doctor. These prescriptions aren’t just fun—they’re backed by science, encouraging families to read aloud together and helping kids build vocabulary, language skills, and a lifelong love of learning.

Legacy’s pediatric team is trained through Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit that shows healthcare providers how to support early literacy. When trusted doctors and nurses talk with parents about reading from day one, families take it to heart—and the impact is huge. Also, there are cozy Little Readers Corners in Legacy’s pediatric waiting rooms—places where kids can relax, explore, and connect with books while waiting to see their provider.

For many families served by Legacy, the books they receive may be the first or only ones in the home. That’s why access matters. In 2024 alone, over 50,000 books were distributed through the program. Roughly 65% of these went to infants and toddlers, and 60% to 70% were bilingual to meet the needs of diverse communities. Legacy’s clinics also ensure that 5% of books reach school-based locations, reinforcing literacy at every age.

Legacy currently delivers books to 17 clinics and 37 school-based sites in partnership with YES Prep, KIPP, and Galena Park ISD.

What does a typical day look like for Little Readers? According to Program Coordinator Robert Ezzell, it can involve anything from processing a shipment of books, to sorting them by age group, preparing for events, or fulfilling clinic orders. “When we receive an order, we pull from our standing inventory, box up the books, and a member of our team personally delivers them to the clinic,” Ezzell explains. “On average, each clinic places an order every few months—though some request books as often as every month.”

On average, clinics receive book deliveries every few months, with quantities ranging from 200 to 2,000 books depending on patient volume. Legacy’s largest location, Southwest Clinic, often receives several thousand books per delivery.

Families Feel the Impact

The reviews are in! Take Delmy, mother to sisters Ive and Lucia, who now look forward to doctor’s visits because they know they’ll receive a book. “I’m happy the books are in English and Spanish,” Delmy shares. “I can read to them in both languages. They love it, and it helps them practice their words.”

Coordinator Robert Ezzell sees that joy firsthand throughout the year at community events, back-to-school fairs, and health festivals, where Legacy sets up tables overflowing with books—sometimes up to 600 at a time.

“The best part is seeing the community and seeing kids still get excited about books,” he said. “Young kids are still fascinated by books. And it’s amazing to see their faces light up when they see a table full of books they can choose from.”

Help Us Write the Next Chapter

Legacy’s Little Readers is made possible entirely through generous donations—from caring individuals to community-minded businesses like H-E-B. Whether attending the Fiesta or making a one-time or recurring gift, community support ensures Legacy can continue to build home libraries for its youngest patients—book by book, story by story.

A donation of just $3 provides one book to a child. That small gesture can inspire a lifetime of imagination, learning, and opportunity.

For those passionate about literacy who want to make a broader impact, becoming a Legacy’s Little Readers Champion is a meaningful way to help. Champions raise awareness, generate support, and share the joy of reading with children across Greater Houston.

Together, this work is empowering future leaders—one bedtime story at a time.

Mark Your Calendar

Save the date for Sunday, May 4, 2025, and join in celebrating 10 incredible years of literacy advocacy at the Legacy’s Little Readers Fiesta. For more information or to make a donation, visit https://legacy.community/fiesta or contact Isabella Villarreal at ivillarreal@legacycommunityhealth.org.

To learn more about Legacy’s Little Readers or to support the program directly, contact Program Manager Debbie Costello at dcostello@legacycommunityhealth.org.

What was your favorite book as a child? Help pass that joy along to the next generation.