Melania Trump attending LSU-Alabama game to announce scholarship fund

First lady Melania Trump will attend LSU’s football game Saturday to announce an endowment to the university that will support students from the foster care system. 

Trump said she will launch the “Fostering the Future” campaign during the Tigers’ matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide. It features a $5 million permanent endowment for LSU to fund scholarships. 

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to build a bright future, and this $5 million investment helps make that possible for students who have experienced foster care,” state Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Rebecca Harris said in a statement. “I’m grateful to first lady Melania Trump and LSU for investing in Louisiana’s children and creating opportunities that can make a lasting difference in their lives. This is what it looks like when we come together to put children first.”

LSU Chancellor Jim Dalton has been a vocal proponent of fostering and is a foster parent himself, according to a DCFS social media post earlier this year. 

Some 4,300 children are in the state foster care system, according to DCFS figures. Nationally, 20% to 30% of foster youth head directly to college after graduating high school, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The rate increases past 60% when counting those who enroll later.

LSU spokeswoman Meg Sunstrom said fans should plan ahead for increased traffic and security for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff.