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11/07 07:19 CST Melania Trump and LSU are set to announce a scholarship program
for students who were in foster care
Melania Trump and LSU are set to announce a scholarship program for students
who were in foster care
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) --- Melania Trump was headed to Louisiana on Saturday to
announce a partnership between Louisiana State University and her "Fostering
the Future" program to provide scholarships for LSU students who came through
the foster care system.
The first lady also planned to attend the LSU-Alabama football game in the
afternoon.
The 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.
Trump and LSU secured $5 million to create an endowment fund for the
scholarships, the White House said. It provided no details on the source of the
money.
The first lady started working on foster care issues after President Donald
Trump's first term ended in 2021, and 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.
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.
During the appearance, 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."
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.
Alabama and LSU, meanwhile, are historical regional rivals and both teams
entered the week in contention for a College Football Playoff berth.
Donald Trump has attended two prior LSU games as president: one at Alabama in
2019 and one in New Orleans in January 2020, when LSU defeated Clemson for the
national championship. Melania Trump accompanied him to the second game.
The president was not scheduled to attend Saturday's game.
___
AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in Baton Rouge, La., contributed to this report.
