Fostering Bright Futures (FBF) is a student success program that helps create a comprehensive support structure to assist youth in our community in making the transition from foster care to independent young adulthood.

The program seeks to identify and support young adults who have been served in the North Carolina foster care system and provide resources to eliminate barriers that would typically derail from them from meeting educational and life goals.

FBF and the Wake Tech Foundation are committed to the success of our students by doing the following:

  • Mentoring and supporting program participants in completing a diploma, certificate or degree at Wake Tech
  • Increasing the number of former foster youth transferring to bachelor's degree programs
  • Decreasing the number of high school dropouts among foster youth by providing a pathway to higher education
  • Helping program participants develop life skills and financial independence

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in FBF, an individual must meet the following requirements:

  • A legal resident of any North Carolina county 
  • 16 to 25 years of age at the time of entry
  • Accepted into Wake Tech
  • Accepted into Fostering Bright Futures between October 15 and February 15 each year
  • Have a high school diploma or GED on file before the fall semester begins
  • Complete the acceptance criteria provided by FBF staff
  • Attend mandatory FBF new student orientation.

Current Wake Tech students can reach out to the FBF staff about joining the program.

The following scholarships are available to FBF students:

  • Gilbert Scholarship
    Darlena Moore, a former foster youth, created the need-based scholarship, which is named in honor of her foster parents, Richard and Mary Gilbert of Asheville, and awarded annually. The Gilberts changed the lives of hundreds of children in foster care and guided Moore through the college process.
  • Sigma Tau Omega Scholarship
    The Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter in Cary provides scholarships to FBF students who meet eligibility requirements.

For more information about FBF, contact Sara Nelson at [email protected] or 919-532-5983, or submit a contact form to let us know how we can help you.

Fostering Bright Futures partners

FBF is made possible by a network of community partners, including the following businesses and organizations:

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
  • Dress for Success
  • Interfaith Food Shuttle
  • Kramden Institute
  • The Green Chair Project
  • United Way of the Greater Triangle
  • Wake County Human Services
  • Wheels 4 Hope
Wake Tech Student Kelsea Read

"Knowledge is power. Nobody can take my education away from me."

Kelsea Read

Nursing, Class of 2018