A Lifeline for Foster Children
Getting through college is hard enough for those from ideal backgrounds. But consider the tremendous challenges faced by the 12,000 foster youth in Colorado and a half million more nationwide. All too often, they lack the financial resources and support network to even reach a university campus, much less obtain a degree. It’s no wonder only 1 in 100 graduates from college.
The new Guardian Scholars program at the University of Colorado Boulder—which provides full tuition, room, board, and personal guidance for CU-bound former foster youth—is a lifeline for those who need it most, opening up a limitless number of paths to achievement.
With your support, this CU Boulder program can replicate the demonstrated success of Guardian Scholars programs on other campuses across the nation, and help remarkable students overcome long odds and realize the dream of a college education.
A Small Price to Pay for a Brighter Future
It costs over $21,000 annually for a Colorado student to attend CU Boulder, including tuition, room, board, and other expenses. With the help of key partners, the Guardian Scholars program provides selected students with a package that covers the full cost of their CU Boulder experience. This package includes:
- Mentorship and guidance provided by CU-Boulder
- Federal and state aid (coordinated by CU Boulder)
- Gifts from private foundations
- Private gifts from individual donors
Foster youth start with two important strikes against them.
They fall behind in education early: Though 70 percent of teens emancipating from foster care want to attend college, only 46 percent overcome a key qualifying hurdle: a high school diploma. Most have been held back in school by the time they reach third grade.
They lack financial resources: One-third of former foster youth have an annual income below $6,000, with more than 40 percent becoming homeless within 18 months of emancipation. We all bear the burden of these damaged lives, as former foster youth enmeshed in the welfare or correctional systems—outcomes far more common than a college degree—are supported by taxpayers.
Given that the average bachelor’s degree can be worth nearly a million dollars over the course of a lifetime, a Guardian Scholarship can be the difference between a successful life and a tragic one, and pay dividends that society will reap for decades to come.
Generous partnerships and significant public aid for former foster youth fund a little over half of the financial assistance needed for Guardian Scholars. Your help with the remaining costs—about $10,000 annually, per student—is needed to fully pave the path to a college degree. A gift of any amount toward a Guardian Scholarship will provide opportunities for foster students. You may support up to a full four-year Guardian Scholarship with a current gift or pledge, or help endow a scholarship in perpetuity. The number of Guardian Scholars CU-Boulder selects each year will depend on the number of available full financial packages.
The Time is Now.
To Donate, please visit www.cufund.org/giveonline
To learn about the many ways you can make a gift:
Contact:
Brian Winkelbauer
Senior Director of Development, Campus Programs
University of Colorado Foundation
Campus Box 59
Boulder, CO 80309
Phone: 303.492.4070
Fax: 303.492.4422
brian.winkelbauer@cufund.org
Visit us at www.cufund.org