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Fostering Futures Scholarship Program Information

Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund logo

 

The numbers are sobering. Nationally, seventy percent of teens who emancipate from foster care report that they want to attend college, but fewer than ten percent who graduate from high school enroll in college, and of those less than one percent graduate from college.* In Michigan, there are approximately 10,000 children in the foster care system at any given time. As they reach adult age, having adequate resources to attain their dream of a college education is critical to having a successful future.

Since 2012, fundraising efforts have totaled over $1,300,000; all of which have been awarded as scholarships in the year they were raised. This was done through individual donations, group donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions and many volunteer based fundraising events. Fostering Futures Scholarships were expanded to include any Michigan degree granting college or university. 

Funds will provide scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care who are enrolled at Michigan degree granting colleges and universities. Awards will be paid to the students' college or university to assist with tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies. Scholarships will be awarded to youth via the application process.

To make a charitable donation, complete and submit a MET Charitable Tuition Program Contribution form along with a check for any dollar amount made payable to the State of Michigan Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund. To make a contribution by credit or debit card visit the Fostering Futures Scholarship Donation Pay Site. Charitable Contribution forms postmarked by December 31 are eligible for a tax deduction on your federal and state income tax form in the year they are made.

The Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, housed in the Michigan Department of Treasury, is a Sec. 170 (c) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide scholarships to former foster youth enrolled at Michigan colleges and universities.

*Assessing the effects of Foster Care: Early results from the Casey National alumni study. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Programs, 2003. Available at www.casey.org.