The original version of this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
The Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation recently donated $3 million to UCLA to create an endowment aimed at making college more affordable for foster-care students, according to a UCLA statement released today.
There are about 250 current or former foster-care students currently at UCLA. Financial aid covers some of the students’ school costs, but the endowment is aimed at funding student expenses that might not be covered by initial financial aid assessments.
The Pritzker Foster Youth Endowment is set to fund unexpected academic costs, summer housing, tutoring and mental health services for foster-care students, since those costs might normally be paid for by family members, according to the statement.
The Pritzkers also founded Foster Care Counts in 2012 and host an annual Foster Mother’s Day event at their home, according to the statement. They also regularly donate to the UCLA Guardian Scholars program, which funds the needs of foster-care students at UCLA.
“Every child deserves to have a caring adult in their lives, and while most kids in college have parents who fill that role, there are thousands who don’t have that support,” Jeanne Pritzker said in the statement. “(Students who are or were in foster care) have already overcome so many challenges to get into UCLA. With this permanent endowment, we want to make sure that unexpected expenses don’t derail their efforts to graduate.”
Compiled by Amanda Schallert, Bruin senior staff.
Correction: Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker do not own the Hyatt hotel chain. Thomas Pritzker is the chairman of the Hyatt Hotels.