More Than $1.4 Million Raised for Scholarships Since 2012

LANSING, Mich. –The Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, which for more than a decade has helped youth who have experienced foster care achieve their dreams of a college education, will host a fundraising dinner at the Motor City Casino in Detroit from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday, September 20.

Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner, meet scholarship recipients and network with others who share the desire to make higher education a reality for hundreds of Michigan youth. The event will also feature keynote speaker Paul Blavin, co-founder and Vice Chairman of Mercy BioAnalytics and founder of Blavin Scholars program at the University of Michigan, and WXYZ-TV 7 News Anchor Carolyn Clifford as emcee.

Raffle prizes and other activities will also be provided.

“Fostering Futures Scholarship fundraisers help raise money to provide a postsecondary education to recent high school graduates who experienced foster care,” said Robin Lott, director of Michigan’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. “The funds from this scholarship can be used by students to cover college expenses such as tuition, fees, housing, book purchases and other related expenses. If you can’t make it to Detroit in person, please consider an online donation.”

All proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships and raffle items are awarded as scholarships to former foster youth currently enrolled at Michigan colleges and universities.

The Michigan foster care system under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services accommodates more than 9,500 young individuals. Nationwide, former foster youth are half as likely to enroll in college after graduating from high school than students in general, and only 3-11% of them succeed in obtaining a postsecondary degree.

The Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund holds annual in-person fundraisers in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit areas. Since 2012, fundraising activities have collected more than $1.4 million, and all the funds raised have been granted as scholarships within the same year.

Reservations for the September 20 event are $100 per person or $800 for a table of eight and can be made through the Michigan Education Trust-Fostering Futures Trust Fund Payment website.

Sponsorship raffle donation opportunities are still available for the fundraising dinner.

The Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, housed in the Michigan Department of Treasury, is a Section 170(c) nonprofit organization. Contributions made by December 31 are eligible for federal and state tax deductions in the year they are made.

To apply or learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship, go to www.michigan.gov/fosteringfutures or call toll-free at 888-4-GRANTS (888-447-2687).

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