Pizza with a Purpose: 13th Annual Pizza Party Fundraiser to Help Foster Youth Achieve their College Dreams Coming to Capitol lawn

Savor a slice and support a scholar — June 18 event
aids college-bound foster youth

A $10 lunch could help transform a young person’s future.

The 13th Annual Fostering Futures Scholarship Pizza Party will take place on the Michigan Capitol lawn on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy pizza, dessert, entertainment and a meaningful opportunity to support college-bound students who have experienced foster care.

Hosted by the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and Michigan Department of Health and Human Service (MDHHS) in partnership with the Treasury Black History Committee, this year’s event will also honor Juneteenth with a celebration of freedom, resilience and opportunity. All proceeds benefit the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, which provides financial support to eligible students attending Michigan colleges and universities.

“For just $10, attendees get lunch and help fund educational opportunities for young people who often face incredible odds,” said Robin Lott, bureau director of Michigan’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. “It’s a simple way to make a big impact.”

Rebecca Yager, a student at Delta College in Saginaw County, counts herself among the many foster youth whose lives have been transformed by Fostering Futures Scholarship. The Bay City Central High School graduate’s story is a testament to the power of education in shaping futures.

“Being awarded this scholarship has been life-changing,” Yager said. “It’s about more than financial support — it’s about knowing someone believes in your potential. I encourage everyone to donate, not just for the tax break but to give foster youth the opportunity to succeed.”

The scholarship fund, managed by the Michigan Department of Treasury and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), has supported hundreds of students like Yager, covering expenses such as tuition, housing and textbooks.

The Capitol lawn event will include live performances, guest speakers, community vendors, games, and raffle prizes. Attendees are encouraged to preregister online to ensure enough pizza is on hand.

Also returning is The Pillow Effect, a project of the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI), which will be collecting new standard pillows and pillowcases for youth entering foster care. Donations will benefit counties across Michigan, including Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Ionia and Shiawassee.

In addition, in celebration of their 25^th anniversary, Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) will match up to $25,529 of donations made to the Fostering Futures Scholarship.

Approximately 10,000 youth are currently in Michigan’s foster care system. Nationally, fewer than 10% of former foster youth enroll in college after high school, and only 3% earn a degree. The Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, established in 2012, has raised more than $1.4 million through events and contributions.

Event sponsors are Hungry Howie’s, Park West Foundation, Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, Michigan College Access Network, LAFCU, Güd Marketing, Michigan First Credit Union, WKAR PBS, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, WLNS-TV 6, and MSU Federal Credit Union, with support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and MYOI.

Can’t attend, but want to make a difference?

Donate or register online using a credit card, or to make a donation by check, complete and submit the Fostering Futures Scholarship Contribution Form along with a check made payable to the State of Michigan — Fostering Futures Scholarship. 

Contributions made by Dec. 31 are eligible for a tax deduction on federal and state income tax forms in the year they are made. MET’s Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund is an IRC Section 170(c) organization, making all donations tax deductible.

Administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, MET is the state’s Section 529 prepaid tuition program that allows for the purchase of future college tuition credits based on today’s rates. MET, Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) and MI 529 Advisor Plan (MAP), Michigan’s three Section 529 college savings programs, offer Michigan taxpayers a state income tax deduction on contributions and potential tax-free growth on earnings if account proceeds are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses.

More information about MET is available at SETwithMET.com or 800-MET-4-KID (800-638-4543). Additional information about the Fostering Futures Scholarship is available on MiLEAP’s website.