Michigan Education Trust Pizza Party supports College Scholarship Fund

The roughly 400 people who attended the Michigan Education Trust’s seventh annual Pizza Party on the Michigan State Capitol Lawn got their fill of pizza and helped fill the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, which awards scholarships to students enrolled in Michigan college and universities who have experienced foster care.

The $4,993 raised at the Aug. 9, Pizza Party pushed the total for all seven events to $34,411, helping make the dream of a college education a reality for students who otherwise might lack resources to pursue higher education when they age out of the foster care system.

For a minimum donation of $5, attendees received pop and pizza provided by Hungry Howie’s and ice cream from MSU Dairy Store.

In addition, 62 pillows were collected during the Pizza Party for The Pillow Effect, a Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative that aims to ensure successful outcomes for young adults as they transition out of foster care. Because children entering foster care often don’t have their essential personal items with them, The Pillow Effect provides pillows to foster care youth in Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton/Eaton, Ingham, Ionia/Montcalm, Jackson, Livingston and Macomb counties. Financial donations also were welcome and $187 was collected Thursday.

The MET Charitable Tuition Program is a way for an organization or individual to purchase from one to four years of college for a deserving individual in Michigan at a discounted price. Charitable tuition contracts cost less than a traditional MET contract, but still enjoy the benefits of locking in tomorrow’s tuition at today’s rates. Individuals also have the opportunity of helping eligible foster care students attend college. Contributions of any dollar amount can be made and will go toward providing scholarships to foster care students at Michigan public colleges who meet academic and/or need-based criteria established by the colleges.

Administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, MET is Michigan’s Section 529 prepaid tuition program that locks future tuition at any of the State’s public universities and colleges, at today’s rates. Contributions are eligible for a Michigan income tax deduction and grow tax-free if used for qualified expenses. MET contracts are portable to Michigan private and out-of-state colleges and universities and may be transferred to other eligible family members. More than 90 percent of high school graduates with MET contracts have attended a college or university.

More information about MET is available at SetWithMET.com or 800-MET-4-KID (800-638-4543).