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Wake County Renews Support for Wake Tech's Fostering Bright Futures
Commissioners Make Good on Pledge to Assist Former Foster Youth
RALEIGH, N.C. (March 24, 2011) - Wake County commissioners continued their support for a program that helps former foster children earn college degrees. Board Chair Paul Coble presented Wake Tech President Dr. Stephen Scott with a check for $50,000 today. It's the third installment on a five-year, $250,000 commitment to the Fostering Bright Futures Fellowship. The program helps former foster children in Wake County earn degrees from Wake Technical Community College by providing access to academic tutors, life mentors and financial assistance.
Statistics show that less than 10 percent of traditional college-aged children emerging from foster care enroll in post-secondary education, and only 2 percent actually graduate.
Eleven students are currently attending Wake Tech through Fostering Bright Futures. The program was launched in 2009 and is made possible through a partnership of Wake Technical Community College, the Wake Tech Foundation, Wake County Human Services, and the Fostering Bright Futures advisory committee.
Major corporate contributors include SAS Institute and AT&T. Other partners include Triangle Family Services, which supports a unique financial literacy program to educate Fostering Bright Futures students about goal setting, budgeting, and credit. To learn more about Fostering Bright Futures and its work to help former Wake County foster youth achieve lifelong independence, contact Michelle Blackmon at 919-866-5504, or Dan Spuller at 919-866-5233 or visit http://fosteringbrightfutures.waketech.edu/
