FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167 Consider Opening Hearts (and Wallets) to Help Students Leaving the Foster Care System Attend CollegeFostering Futures Scholarships Provide Meaningful Gifts of Education that will Last a Lifetime for RecipientsLANSING — As the end of the year draws near, the Michigan Department of Treasury is encouraging Michiganders to consider giving the gift of education through a tax-deductible donation to help youth who have experienced foster care. “A growing number of our youth are reaching adult age and leaving the foster care system with inadequate resources to attend college,” said Robin Lott, executive director of Treasury’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. “We know that Michiganders have big hearts that will grow even bigger as we raise funds for Michigan’s foster youth.” Students who receive this scholarship can use the money for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses. Funds raised through the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund provide scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care and are enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university. Awards are paid to the students’ college or university for expenses. More than 10,000 youth are in the Michigan foster care system run by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Fewer than 10% of former foster youth nationally enroll in school after high school and fewer than 3% eventually earn a degree. Since 2012, fundraising efforts have totaled approximately $1.3 million, all of which has been awarded as scholarships. This was accomplished through individual donations, group donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions and many volunteer-based fundraising events. Contributing online is quick, easy and secure and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
Open Hearts to Help Students Leaving Foster Care attend college
