White House says Melania Trump, LSU secured $5 million scholarship endowment

First lady also plans to attend LSU-Alabama game with playoff berths at stake

Melania Trump was headed to Louisiana on Saturday to announce a partnership between Louisiana State University and her “Fostering the Future” foster care program. The first lady also planned to attend the LSU-Alabama football game that afternoon.

LSU partnership and scholarship endowment

The partnership is set to provide scholarships for LSU students who came through the foster care system. The White House said Melania Trump and LSU secured $5 million to create an endowment fund for the scholarships; the White House provided no details about the source of the money.

LSU is among more than 20 colleges and universities nationwide that participate in “Fostering the Future.”

Foster care initiative, executive order and legislative push

Melania Trump began working on foster care issues after President Donald Trump’s first term ended in 2021. She created “Fostering the Future” to provide resources and support, including scholarships.

Last November, Melania Trump spearheaded an executive order signed by Republican President Donald Trump that links the federal government, colleges and universities, the private sector and charitable groups to create educational and employment opportunities for those in foster care.

She also created “Fostering the Future Together,” a global version of the program with more than 45 participating countries.

Earlier this year, Melania Trump was on Capitol Hill to push Congress to pass a legislative package that would broaden access to services for young people in foster care by updating a decades-old program. The measures cleared the House and are pending in the Senate.

During that appearance, she told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that young people in foster care face barriers to housing, transportation and other challenges outside the classroom. Those barriers affect their performance in school along with their future financial independence.

“We can close this gap,” she said in April. “New legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative.”

Game-day program and presidential attendance

The White House said the foster care program will be featured across the LSU campus in Baton Rouge and on the field at Tiger Stadium just before kickoff. Melania Trump planned to attend the LSU-Alabama game in the afternoon.

Alabama and LSU are historical regional rivals, and both teams entered the week in contention for a College Football Playoff berth.

Donald Trump has attended two prior LSU games as president: one at Alabama in 2019 and one in New Orleans in January 2020, when LSU defeated Clemson for the national championship. Melania Trump accompanied him to the second game.

Donald Trump was not scheduled to attend Saturday’s game.

AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in Baton Rouge, La., contributed to this report.