State education officials are urging people to make a donation to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund as the year runs down. Michigan Office of Postsecondary Financial Services Director Robin Lott tells WSJM News the fund gives college scholarships to young people in the foster care system. It’s raised $1.3 million since 2012, and Lott says donations are down this year due to COVID canceling many events. She notes foster kids have a harder time getting a college education.
“You are on your own, you’re out in the world, you’re an adult, and you want to do something, you want to pursue a higher education, but you really don’t have that financial resource available to you, other than borrowing maybe,” Lott said.
There are about 12,500 young people in Michigan’s foster care system at any given time. Lott says 70% of them want to go to college, but only about 10% do. You can learn more about the scholarship fund right here.
