WASHINGTON (WISH) — A $2 million expansion of first lady Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future initiative was announced Thursday in the Rose Garden at the White House. The expansion, funded by donations from IndyCar and its broadcast partner Fox Corp., will provide scholarships for studen ts at Indiana University and Purdue University. The move brings the national network to 26 academic institutions, said a news release from the first lady’s office. “America’s greatest competitive advantage remains in its own people,” Trump said during the ceremony. “Tomorrow’s leaders are sitting in classrooms today, including those growing up in foster care. Their capability is no less remarkable.” The initiative helps the foster care community find paths to higher education. The announcement precedes the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which is scheduled to happen Saturday and Sunday in Washington. An IndyCar featuring “BE BEST” and “Fostering the Future” branding sat in the Rose Garden during the announcement. All cars in the upcoming race will feature a specially designed BE BEST logo. Sunday’s race will be on a new course wrapping around the National Mall, with the initiative’s logo displayed on the Seventh Street and Jefferson Drive overpass. “The first lady is an incredible champion for students across the county, and this initiative is critical to unlocking a more promising future for so many bright young minds,” IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement in the release. Trump established Fostering the Future in 2021 as part of her yearslong effort to support youth. The program focuses on helping foster youth achieve financial independence and stable housing. Recent milestones for the program include: Securing $30 million in the fiscal year 2026 federal budget for the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence housing program. Launching Fostering the Future Accounts in June to help youth save and invest. Supporting the education of the program’s first doctor, who graduated this past spring. More information on the initiative is available at MelaniaTrump.com. PHOTOS | IndyCar donates to Melania Trump initiative ...read more read less