Melania Trump, LSU announce over $7M scholarship fund for foster kids

First lady Melania Trump announced Saturday that Louisiana State University has raised $7.2 million to provide scholarships that will allow former foster kids to attend Louisiana State University. 

Before arriving in Louisiana, the total was expected to be $5 million, based on a commitment from MMR Group Inc., a Baton Rouge-based electrical contracting company. But members of the LSU Foundation raised the additional $2.2 million in time for Saturday's announcement. 

The new fund is a partnership between LSU and the first lady’s "Fostering the Future" program. Melania Trump will also attend the LSU-Alabama football game at Tiger Stadium. President Trump is not planning to join her. 

Melania Trump-LSU partnership

What we know:

Trump and LSU secured $7.2 million to create an endowment fund for scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to kids who came up in the foster system. 

The new foster care program will be featured across the LSU campus in Baton Rouge as well as on the field at Tiger Stadium just before kickoff, the White House said.

Melania Trump’s ‘Fostering the Future’ program

Big picture view:

The first lady started working on foster care issues after her husband’s first term ended in 2021. She created "Fostering the Future" to provide resources and support, including scholarships. LSU is among more than 20 colleges and universities nationwide that participate in the program.

LSU currently has 14 scholars under the program and Alabama has nine, part of 100 students supported across 26 participating colleges and universities this semester.

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Earlier this year, Melania Trump was on Capitol Hill to push Congress to pass a legislative package that would broaden access to services for young people in foster care by updating a decades-old program. The measures cleared the House and are pending in the Senate.

What they're saying:

"This achievement will give young people from foster care an anchor of stability, a strong educational foundation and a chance to build a wonderful life," the first lady said at an event with LSU President Wade Rousse and some of the donors. "As adults, we have a moral obligation to our children, especially those in foster care. But, as you know, we must act to truly make a difference. The foster care community doesn’t need words."

She later attended the LSU-Alabama college football game, watching from an enclosed box. LSU players' helmets and uniforms included the "Be Best" logo and fans received commemorative white "Be Best" towels to wave during the game. She left the game during the fourth quarter as Alabama was leading LSU 31-13, the final score of the game.

"Fostering the Future" is an offshoot of her "Be Best" child well-being initiative that she focused on during President Donald Trump's first term. 

During the scholarship announcement before the game, LSU President Wade Rousse presented Melania Trump with an LSU helmet sporting the "Be Best" logo and an LSU jersey with her first name and the number 14, which stands for the number of enrolled scholars.

"At LSU, we believe talent is everywhere, but we understand that opportunity is not," Rousse said. "That is why access is one of our highest priorities. Students who have experienced foster care have already demonstrated resilience, determination and potential. Our responsibility, our responsibility is to make sure circumstances beyond their control do not stand between them and a life-changing higher educational experience."

Dig deeper:

Earlier this year, she told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that young people in foster care face barriers to housing, transportation and other challenges outside of the classroom that affect their performance in school along with their future financial independence.

"We can close this gap," she said in April. "New legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative."

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Last November, the first lady spearheaded an executive order signed by the Republican president linking the federal government, colleges and universities, the private sector and charitable groups to create educational and employment opportunities for those in foster care.

She also created "Fostering the Future Together," a global version of the program with more than 45 participating countries.

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