Scholarships for youth in/aging out of foster care

What a great year, thanks to you!

Comfort Cases, Inc. understands the importance of supporting young people as they transition out of foster care. Virtually all youth in foster care are indigent. Of the more than 343,000 children currently in foster care in the United States, just 3 in 10 will finish high school, less than 3% will go on to graduate from college, and one in five will, unfortunately, wind up homeless after aging out of the system. Comfort Cases, Inc. seeks to change these outcomes by offering educational and life skills support to young adults aging out of foster care. Comfort Cases provides Hope Scholarships, mentoring and Hope Boxes to help cover costs and ease the transition from foster care to adult life. 

Applicants for Hope Scholarships are young adults who are aging out of or have aged out of the foster care system and are actively pursuing higher education in college or trade school. The Hope Scholarships help cover the costs of tuition, books, and other expenses associated with higher education. The scholarships are advertised nationally and are offered to U.S. citizens who have spent at least three years in foster care. Since 2016, Comfort Cases has awarded 32 scholarships of $5,000 each. The first $2,500 is paid upon award, and the remaining $2,500 is paid once the recipient is in the next semester of their schooling. The recipient provides proof that they are still in school. Hope Scholarships are funded by donors who specifically earmark donations for the scholarships. Funding for scholarships does not come out of general Comfort Case funds. Fully 100% of what is donated for scholarships goes directly to the students to spend as they need, whether for tuition, transportation, food, or household items.

Each scholarship recipient is matched to a mentor. Mentors and mentees touch base at least once a month. Mentors help these young people develop life skills and strategies for navigating the challenges they face as students living independently. Mentors assist with issues such as opening a bank account, crafting a resume, and finding resources such as food banks and affordable housing. Mentors share their considerable knowledge and experience to help these young people get a strong, confident start in their adult lives. These relationships are extremely valuable and rewarding to the scholarship recipients as well as the mentors, with some mentees continuing to stay in touch with their mentors for years following their mentorship period. 

Hope Boxes are provided monthly for 12 months tocurrent recipients of the Hope Scholarships who are enrolled in college or trade school. Hope Boxes provide essential items for independent living, such as bedding, kitchenware, toiletries, snacks, non-perishable meals, gift cards and cleaning supplies. The total value of the items is approximately $50 - $75 per month. The Hope Boxes are funded by either specific individual donations and/or from Comfort Cases’ general funds. Since 2022, Comfort Cases has shipped 149 Hope Boxes to students formerly in foster care. 

By donating to scholarships, mentoring and essential household items, you help young people aging out of foster care to break free from financial hardship, pursue their dreams of higher education, and ultimately become successful and financially independent adults. Yay, you!