Louisiana State University (LSU) and First Lady Melania Trump announced Saturday a $7.2 million-and-growing scholarship endowment for students who have experienced foster care, expected to generate about $288,000 annually in perpetuity.
The fund, named the MMR Fostering the Future Endowed Scholarship, includes a $5 million commitment from MMR Group and contributions from 75 LSU Foundation donors, LSU said. The university expects the endowment to provide the annual amount indefinitely.
LSU said it can use the scholarship funds flexibly to address room and board costs. Those expenses can make college harder to afford for students without a financial support system, the university said.
Separate scholarships awarded to 14 LSU students this fall used an earlier Zoom commitment to cover tuition, fees and books, LSU said. That support is distinct from the new endowment.
The White House said the wider Fostering the Future initiative supported 100 scholars across 26 universities that semester. Melania Trump said 14 scholars were at LSU and nine at the University of Alabama; those figures describe the broader initiative, not the new endowment alone. The White House identifies Fostering the Future as part of Melania Trump's Be Best initiative. LSU said it joined the program in early 2026.
A White House preview on Nov. 4 had described a $5 million endowment. LSU's later announcement identified $5 million as MMR Group's commitment and put the total at $7.2 million and growing.
A November 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to develop partnerships with private companies, academic institutions and nonprofits to expand education and employment opportunities for people in or transitioning out of foster care.
