There are close to 500,000 kids in our country who do not have the blessing of even one stable parent in their lives. The cost of this instability is frequently devastating for these innocent children. Abuse, neglect, abandonment, and abject poverty are typical experiences. This year roughly 23,000 of these young men and women will age out of the foster care system at 18. Of those kids:
• Only 2-3% will end up earning a 4 year degree. 500 kids nationwide out of 23,000!!
• Only approximately 50% will earn a high school diploma or GED
On the other hand:
• 20% will experience homelessness;
• 25% will be incarcerated within 2 years of aging out of foster care;
• 50% of the young women in foster care will become pregnant before the age of 19.
Incarceration, unemployment, shattered dreams and lives of unfulfilled potential are too often the reality. Tragically, this has become a generational cycle. Something needs to be done to break this cycle and bring hope, knowledge and the potential for a bright future to these promising young women and men. The Blavin Scholars Programs provide much needed hope, inspiration, love and support. Monetary support, while often critical, is not the key to our programs’ success. Rather, the Blavins have seen firsthand that support provided by the programs’ dedicated on-campus professionals, faculty mentors, and dedicated alumni leads to miraculous results and truly transforms lives. With 25 graduates and an over 90% graduation rate from the University of Michigan, we are making a profound difference.