Edgemere, an SQLC retirement community, was honored to welcome former First Lady Laura Bush as the special guest speaker for the grand opening celebration of its Performing Arts Center. The 6,000-square-foot state-of-the-art theater is part of the $36 million “Renaissance Expansion” project currently underway at the community.

Mrs. Bush captivated an audience of more than 225 Edgemere residents, staff members and invited guests with personal anecdotes from her tenure in the White House. The former First Lady also spoke about her current life in Texas, her summer travel plans and updates on her two grandchildren, Mila, 3, and Poppy, 1, Jenna Bush Hager’s two daughters. Gloria Compos, one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s best-known news anchors, moderated a compelling conversation with Mrs. Bush following her presentation. 

“We were honored to host Mrs. Bush as our special speaker as we unveiled our new Performing Arts Center,” said John Falldine, managing director of Edgemere. “As a Masterpiece Living® community, Edgemere presents programs that enhance the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual wellness of its residents and guests. The beautiful new Performing Arts Center is a fitting venue for these many special offerings. Residents and invited guests of Edgemere are still talking about the former First Lady’s poignant presentation, and we feel confident that it’s a memory members of the audience will cherish for years to come.”

For decades, Mrs. Bush has championed key issues in the fields of education, healthcare and human rights. The author of the bestselling memoir, “Spoken From The Heart”, Mrs. Bush also founded both the Texas Book Festival and the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. Today, as the Chair of Women’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, Mrs. Bush continues to focus on global healthcare innovations, empowerment of women in emerging democracies, education reform and support of the men and women who have served in America’s military.