Fostering Futures provides renewable scholarships to emancipated foster youth who seek higher education, whether at vocational school, community college or university, and whether undergraduate or seeking an advanced degree. Foster youth "age out" of the foster care system at 18, and, with little or no familial ties or other support, they rely on extra grants to pay everyday expenses -- things such as rent, transportation, books -- to aid in their dreams of higher education. Through no fault of their own, these at-risk youth were placed in the foster care system, many since they were young children, and they need our help so they can have a happier and more productive future.

Description:
Fostering Futures also provides mentoring to enable us to identify any special student needs. We include as part of our program a computer program, where we can provide laptop computers and printers to our scholars. This is particularly helpful because most of our students work at least part time (many work 20-30 hours a week) and a laptop provides flexibility, allowing them to work off a laptop while juggling between work hours and class schedules. To receive a Fostering Futures scholarship, students must meet certain criteria and periodically report their progress to continue in the program. Fostering Futures has no paid staff and their board of directors fund all administrative expenses; therefore, 100% of contributions to the Foundation go directly to students.

History:
The school year 2008-'09 is the start of Fostering Futures' fourth year of providing scholarships. Since starting the Foundation, we have awarded grants to more than seventy students receiving in excess of $200,000. These grants are renewable each year a student continues their education, and, because we strive to increase the grant amount as they move through their higher education, our budget increases exponentially. We are in the process of interviewing new grants applicants and anticipate oversight of approximately 25 grant recipients from throughout the Greater Bay Area for the 2008-2009 school year. The success rate of our scholars is better than national averages. According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, only 17% of students going to college complete a degree. In our short time awarding scholarships, 61% of our students are currently continuing their education or have graduated.

Contact people:

Marion Kenyon, Pres & Co-Founder, (phone), (email) Peggy Whalen, Secty/Tres & Co-Founder, (phone), (email) Sheron Landis, VP & Co-Founder, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (925) 944-0286

Address:

P. O. Box 352 Concord, CA 94522

Web Site: http://www.fosteringfuturesfoundation.org

Directions:

There is no formal office for Fostering Futures.