First lady Melania Trump announced a partnership Thursday with IndyCar and Fox Corp. to provide $2 million in scholarships for children in foster care. The announcement took place during an event held in the White House Rose Garden.
The funding is designated for the first lady’s Fostering the Future program, which coordinates with higher education institutions to support youth transitioning out of the foster care system. The initiative aims to provide these students with resources to obtain college degrees and pursue financial independence.
According to the first lady, Indiana University and Purdue University are the latest institutions to join the scholarship network. These schools join a group of more than two dozen colleges and universities across the United States that currently participate in the Fostering the Future program.
The announcement coincided with preparations for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar race scheduled to take place through the streets of downtown Washington. The race is part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The scale of the program now involves more than 24 colleges and universities nationwide. While the specific number of individual students who will receive funding from this $2 million gift was not reported, the expansion to two major Indiana institutions increases the geographic reach of the scholarship network. For the participating students, this support would be noticed in the form of reduced tuition bills and educational expenses as they enroll in degree programs at the member institutions.
The partnership sets a precedent for collaboration between the executive branch, professional sports organizations like IndyCar, and media corporations like Fox Corp. to fund social initiatives. The immediate next step is the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which IndyCar is sponsoring this Sunday in Washington. Further details regarding the application deadlines for the new scholarships at the Indiana schools were not specified in the announcement.