WASHINGTON — Melania Trump is set to unveil a fresh slate of scholarships for children from foster care on Thursday, teaming with IndyCar in an effort to expand educational pathways for young people facing difficult circumstances.
IndyCar, the governing organization behind the US open-wheel racing series, will join the Trump administration, Indiana University and Purdue University in backing the scholarship initiative, adding to a network that already includes 24 colleges and universities nationwide.
In recognition of the announcement, IndyCar created a one-of-a-kind red, white and blue helmet for the first lady, featuring her name along with the titles of her “Be Best” and “Fostering the Future” initiatives.
“Only 3% of individuals in foster care in the United States go on to complete some level of college,” Marc Beckman, Trump’s exclusive senior adviser, told The Post.
“And that becomes very problematic. This is why you see such a high rate of individuals from foster care that end up homeless and mixed up.”
The new partnership is being announced just days before Sunday’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which will run through the streets of Washington, DC. Melania Trump is expected to join President Trump for an honorary lap around the course before the race officially begins.
President Trump, IndyCar officials and university representatives are also expected to appear alongside Melania Trump in the Rose Garden on Thursday for the formal rollout of the scholarship program.
Beckman said every dollar raised through the effort will go directly into the scholarship fund.
“There’s no administrative fee or marketing fee. It goes directly to the universities, and the universities fund the scholarships with 100% of the funds,” he said.
The scholarships are merit-based, and any foster child can apply for one.
Melania Trump’s “Fostering the Future” program has become one of her main platforms as first lady.
Part of her overall “Be Best” initiative, it works to improve children’s well-being, education and digital safety. She has arranged for foster children to receive Trump Savings Accounts and hosted a summit of spouses from around the world to discuss children’s issues.
She has lobbied Congress to allocate more resources to foster children — a measure that has passed the House but still needs approval in the Senate.
Additionally, President Trump has signed an executive order directing more federal resources to foster children.
“She’s not just raising awareness,” Beckman said. “We’re actually impacting and changing people’s lives. This is fully about results.”
