Melania Trump and LSU announce scholarship for foster youth

First Lady Melania Trump and Louisiana State University officials announced the creation of a permanent endowment fund on Nov. 7, 2026, aimed at providing scholarships for students who have experienced the foster care system.

The initiative, titled Fostering the Future, has secured $7.2 million in private donations to support the program. This total includes a $5 million commitment from the Baton Rouge-based electrical contracting company MMR Group Inc., along with more than $2 million contributed by other donors to the LSU Foundation.

The announcement was held in Baton Rouge during the day of the LSU-Alabama football game. As part of the event, the initiative was highlighted through various campus activations and the inclusion of branded patches on player jerseys.

Fostering the Future is an extension of the First Lady’s Be Best campaign and was established following the conclusion of the first term of President Donald Trump in 2021. The program currently operates across more than 20 universities nationwide to provide educational resources and support to former foster youth.

During the announcement, the First Lady stated that the endowment is intended to provide stability and a strong educational foundation for young people from the foster care system. LSU President Wade Rousse described the funding from the MMR Group as a transformative opportunity for students seeking to earn a degree from the university.

Earlier in 2026, the First Lady advocated on Capitol Hill for federal legislative packages designed to expand services for those in the foster care system. There were no additional future deadlines or program expansions announced following the Nov. 7 event.