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$63,000 raised at seventh annual Fostering Futures Scholarship event; More than 500 foster youth who go to college will benefit this year

DETROIT, Mich. – More than 500 foster youth will receive college scholarships following the seventh annual Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund Benefit Dinner held Thursday evening at Waterview Loft at Port Detroit.

Thursday’s event was attended by about 225 guests who raised $63,170 for scholarships through Michigan Education Trust (MET), the Michigan Department of Treasury’s 529 prepaid college tuition program. So far this year, MET has raised $106,746 for the scholarships.

The dinner, silent auction and raffles, including a $100 raffle with a two-year lease for a 2018 Cadillac XT5 as the top prize, benefit youth who have experienced foster care in Michigan. This year’s event was at Waterview Loft at Port Detroit.

A partnership between MET and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) makes Fostering Futures Scholarships possible.

“Many youth who have experienced foster care want to go to college, but they have barriers that are not faced by other teens interested in pursuing a higher education,” said Robin Lott, executive director for MET. “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors and guests, we can make the dream of college a reality for students exiting foster care.”

About 13,500 youth are in the Michigan foster care system run by MDHHS. Fewer than 10 percent of former foster youth nationally enroll after high school and fewer than 3 percent eventually earn a degree.

“I look forward to these events every year because of the opportunity they provide to foster youth, and because of the incredible partnerships that we have to make dreams a reality for them,” said MDHHS Director Nick Lyon.

Carolyn Clifford, anchor for television station WXYZ Channel 7, emceed the event. She shared stories of how her mother opened her home to children as a foster parent.

Anyone who could not attend Thursday’s event can make donations to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund by visiting www.fosteringfutures-mi.com. Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund is a Section 170 (c) non-profit organization.  All contributions are eligible for a federal tax deduction.

Since 2012, fundraising efforts have totaled more than $1.2 million, with all funds awarded as scholarships in the year they were raised.

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