First Lady Melania Trump announced a $2 million scholarship initiative on Thursday, funded equally by Fox Corporation and IndyCar, to support higher education for young adults transitioning out of foster care. The funds will establish scholarships at Indiana University and Purdue University under her Fostering the Future program, aimed at providing educational opportunities and career pathways for foster youth.
The announcement was made during a Rose Garden event at the White House, attended by President Donald Trump, university officials, and representatives from Fox Corporation and IndyCar. Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation, praised the initiative in his remarks.
Fox Corporation and IndyCar each contributed $1 million to the scholarship fund, with the money directly supporting students with foster care backgrounds. The event coincided with the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., highlighting the partnership between education and motorsports.
During the ceremony, Melania Trump stated, “The greatest achievement America can make is not in technology, infrastructure or capital markets. It’s our children.” FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks, an Indiana University alumnus, and IndyCar president Doug Boles presented the first lady with symbolic checks.
The scholarships will be administered through Indiana University and Purdue University, with university leaders including Dr. Pamela Whitten (IU president) and Cherise Hall (Purdue vice provost) in attendance. IndyCar drivers Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Scott McLaughlin, and Graham Rahal also participated, alongside foster youth beneficiaries.
The initiative expands the Fostering the Future program, which seeks to provide college education, career opportunities, and financial independence for young people exiting the foster care system. The event underscored the collaboration between media, sports, and higher education to address systemic gaps in support for foster youth.