A $2 million donation from IndyCar and Fox Sports will fund scholarships at Indiana and Purdue universities as part of a partnership with Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future initiative.
First lady Melania Trump established the Fostering the Future initiative during President Donald Trump’s first term in 2021. The program provides merit-based scholarships to individuals who have experienced the foster care system.
“Fostering the Future is more than an educational initiative; it is a generational investment in America’s talent pipeline,” Melania Trump said during a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House on Aug. 20. “The return on this investment is measured not only in lives changed for the better, but in stronger communities, a more competitive nation, and a future powered by American ingenuity.”
The donation was made during the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., which took place in the nation’s capital Aug. 22-23. The event, held in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, was sponsored by IndyCar.
“The first lady is an incredible champion for students across the county, and this initiative is critical to unlocking a more promising future for so many bright young minds,” IndyCar President, Douglas Boles, said during the ceremony.
IU and Purdue now join 20 other higher education institutions that offer Fostering the Future Scholarships, including the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University.
IU and Purdue did not immediately respond to IndyStar’s requests for comment.
Grace Randolph is an Ida B. Wells investigative intern for IndyStar. She can be reached at GRandolph@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar, Fox Sports donate to IU, Purdue through Melania Trump program
Reporting by Grace Randolph, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Grace Randolph, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
