Thanks to the generosity of 170 people who attended the third annual Fostering Futures Scholarship Event – Grand Rapids, youth exiting foster care in Michigan will have more financial support.
The event at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park raised $34,475 for Michigan’s Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund. Attendees enjoyed dinner and music, placed bids on items in a silent auction and bought raffle tickets for prizes – all for the benefit of Michiganders who have been in foster care.
“You don’t just give us financial stability. You give us another shot at life,” Fostering Futures scholarship recipient Brittney Carter of Grand Rapids told the audience. Carter, a Western Michigan University graduate who is now a behavioral specialist, was the keynote speaker at the event.
“We are always impressed by the generosity of people from the Grand Rapids area who help young people exiting foster care pursue a higher education,” said Robin Lott, executive director of MET. “These youth understand the importance of getting a good education, but in many cases lack the resources to go to college. They really appreciate the support from Fostering Futures Scholarship donors in West Michigan, Metro Detroit and around the state.”
Seventy percent of youth exiting foster care nationally say they want to go to college. But fewer than 10 percent who graduate from high school enroll in college, and about 1 percent of foster youth graduate from college, according to Casey Family Programs.
Anyone who could not attend can make donations to the MET Charitable Tuition Program by visiting the Fostering Futures Scholarship donation pay-site.
As an IRC Section 170(c) organization all donations to MET's Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund are tax deductible.
This event is hosted in partnership with
Graduate Sponsor
Fellowship Sponsors
Meijer
Michigan Education Savings Plan
Intuition College Savings Solutions
Media Sponsors
Michigan Association of Broadcasters