First Lady Melania Trump made a return to the White House Rose Garden on Thursday to announce an expansion of her "Fostering the Future" initiative, a scholarship program aimed at supporting young Americans transitioning out of the foster care system. The announcement was made in conjunction with a partnership with IndyCar and Fox Corporation, which is contributing $2 million to establish higher-education scholarships.
Greeting the attendees with a playful remark, "I heard you missed me. Here I am," Trump stood before a display of American flags and an IndyCar adorned with the branding of her "BE BEST" and "Fostering the Future" initiatives. President Donald Trump was among the guests at the event.
The partnership involves each Fox Corporation and IndyCar contributing $1 million to create scholarships at Indiana University and Purdue University. This brings the total commitment to $2 million and expands the "Fostering the Future" network to 26 colleges and universities nationwide.
"The greatest investment America can make is not in technology, infrastructure or capital markets. It's our children," Trump stated during the event. She also shared that the program recently celebrated its first scholarship recipient to become a doctor.
IndyCar President Doug Boles, Fox Corporation CEO Eric Shanks, and several IndyCar drivers, including Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Graham Rahal, and Scott McLaughlin, were present for the announcement. Boles described the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., which will take place days after the Rose Garden event, as a "massive and very fast spectacle" celebrating America's 250th birthday. The race is expected to feature cars traveling at speeds exceeding 180 mph through the capital.
Trump emphasized the lasting value of education, stating, "Education is the one asset that can never be taken away. It is the foundation upon which confidence is built, opportunities created, and the future is invented."