Gov. Whitmer and Fellow Michigan Education Trust Alums Mark College Savings Month

September is National College Savings Month, and with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaiming it Michigan College Savings Month, the Michigan Education Trust (MET) is once again encouraging families to take the next step toward securing their children’s educational future.

This year marks the first Michigan College Savings Month since MET lowered its minimum contribution to just $25 to support more Michigan families in starting to save for their child’s future education. This change opens the door for more families to take advantage of MET’s benefits without the previous requirement of purchasing at least one credit hour upfront.

With an initial contribution of just $25, families can begin building a secure pathway to future college costs and invest in their child’s dreams sooner.

“This initiative reflects our ongoing mission to help families address the challenges that too often stand in the way of higher education,” said Diane Brewer, executive director of MET. “We want more students to start and finish college without the often-crushing burden of student debt.”

Since its inception in 1988, MET, the nation’s first 529 prepaid tuition program, has helped thousands of Michigan students, including Gov. Whitmer, attend college, university or technical school.

One MET alumna, Christiana Malacara of Saginaw County, says the program changed her life and now she’s preparing to open MET programs for her own children.

“I am MET through and through. If it wasn’t for MET, I wouldn’t have gone to college,” Malacara said.

Her hardworking and successful father was left on permanent disability after a car accident years ago. Her mother then worked at a grocery store to help the family make ends meet. As a result of the family’s changed circumstances, college began to feel financially out of reach. But Malacara’s parents’ early decision to open a MET when circumstances were better meant her tuition was already covered.

The Saginaw Township native went on to earn an associate degree from Delta College and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Western Michigan University. Today, she is the lead news reporter for WSGW radio, hosts the “That’s What She Said” podcast, produces and hosts “Somos Hispanos” on Delta College’s PBS station and leads the Latino Leaders for the Enhancement of Advocacy and Development (LLEAD) in Saginaw.

“I want my kids to have the same opportunity,” she said. “MET gave me the gift of graduating debt-free — and that’s exactly what I want for them.”

A MET offers multiple advantages:

• Tax benefits — Contributions are deductible from Michigan state income tax and withdrawals for qualified education expenses are tax-free.
• Flexibility — Contracts can be used at in-state and out-of-state schools, as well as for community colleges and technical programs.
• Year-round contributions — Parents, grandparents, friends and community organizations can contribute anytime.

MET is also expanding outreach through free webinars that explain options, tax advantages and strategies for maximizing savings.

“MET is more than a savings program,” Brewer said. “It’s a commitment to the future success of Michigan’s children. We are better positioned than ever to help families reach their education goals.”

For more information about MET, visit SetWithMET.com.