The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students, in partnership with Project ACCESS, has launched the Foster Futures Initiative—a comprehensive effort to provide meaningful and targeted support for foster youth in Fresno Unified School District.
Funded by a generous $30,000 gift from the Edward M. and Jeanne C. Kashian Family Foundation, the initiative introduces two key programs designed to meet both immediate needs and long-term goals for students in foster care:
- Foster Futures Fund – Administered by Project ACCESS, this fund offers micro-grants for clothing, hygiene products, housing support, enrichment activities, and other critical expenses. Referrals are made through school staff and counselors to ensure timely, student-centered support.
- Foster Futures Scholarship Program – 10 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors identified as foster youth, helping reduce financial barriers to higher education or career training after graduation.
“The Foster Futures Initiative embodies our commitment to ensuring that every foster youth in Fresno Unified has the support and resources to thrive,” said Wendy McCulley, CEO of The Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of the Edward M. and Jeanne C. Kashian Family Foundation and our partnership with Project ACCESS, we can remove barriers and open doors to education and opportunity.”
Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her added, “We are extremely grateful for the support the Foster Futures Initiative provides our foster students, and for coming alongside Project ACCESS. The two key components of this work meet everyday essential needs that our students may have, as well as support their long-term goals for college and careers.”
Immediate aid applications will be managed by Project ACCESS, while scholarships will be awarded through The Foundation’s annual scholarship process.
