First lady Melania Trump announced a $2 million donation from IndyCar and Fox Corporation to fund scholarships at Indiana University and Purdue University as part of her Fostering the Future initiative, a program designed to give children transitioning out of foster care expanded educational opportunity.
“Our mission is simple yet transformational: provide every young person from the foster care community the chance to earn a college education, launch a meaningful career, and achieve lasting financial independence,” Trump said while speaking in the Rose Garden on Thursday.
President Donald Trump attended the Rose Garden event on Thursday but did not deliver remarks. Roger Penske, founder and chairman of the Penske Corporation, praised the first lady’s commitment to the younger generation in his speech.
Six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, eight-time IndyCar Series winner Alexander Rossi, IndyCar Series race winner Graham Rahal, and seven-time IndyCar Series race winner Scott McLaughlin presented the first lady with a red, white, and blue helmet with her name on it and the phrase “Be Best.”
The event comes just days before Sunday’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix race this weekend in Washington. According to Trump’s office, every race car in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will feature a specially designed “Be Best” logo as part of their collaboration.
Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks thanked Melania Trump for “making a powerful impact for these kids.”
“Together, we aren’t just creating pathways for these incredible students; we are also making history this weekend,” he continued. “This is going to be a celebration of our great country, unlike any other. So, President Trump and first lady, thank you for allowing us to have a race in your backyard. It takes incredible partners to pull off an event of this scale while lifting up our next generation at the same time.”
The collaboration with IndyCar and Fox Corporation will also bring the first lady’s Fostering the Future network to 26 academic institutions nationwide, joining leading universities such as the Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin, Arizona State University, University of Georgia, University of Texas, Louisiana State University, University of Alabama, and University of Florida.
The first lady has often prioritized the more than 400,000 children estimated to be in foster care as part of her role in the second Trump administration.
Trump has also strategically structured her appearances during the president’s second term to children-focused events and rare occasions, which she alluded to on Thursday.
FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX PREVIEW: WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU’RE ATTENDING THE FASTEST WEEKEND IN DC
“Good afternoon. I heard you missed me. Here I am,” she said to the laughter of the crowd.
The first lady wore a bright-red Dior pencil skirt with a sky-blue oversized shirt by Michael Kors and Manolo suede pumps, according to a White House pool report.