U.S. Bank Awards Children’s Fund $20,000 Grant for Foster Youth Education

U.S. Bank Foundation has approved and presented $20,000 for Children’s Fund Foster Youth Educational Programs, which will empower foster and former foster youth through higher education. Edwin entered foster care at the age of 14, and Children’s Fund has supported him along the way. He is currently attending California State University, San Bernardino, and will be entering the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program at Crafton Hills College with the goal of becoming a firefighter. “I want to be educated and well qualified for jobs that seem out of my reach,” says Edwin. “I want to break the chains that hold my family down. That people have hope in me and believe in me gives me a spark.” “U.S. Bank Foundation believes education is the way to lift people out of less desirable situations,” states Richard Madsen, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of U.S. Bank. “Being able to partner with Children’s Fund to invest in children like Edgar to achieve their goals and dreams is part of U.S. Bank Foundation’s vision.” Each year, the Foundation provides contributions to nonprofit organizations in grant priority areas of education, economic opportunity, and artistic and cultural enrichment. In 2014, the Foundation provided more than $23.5 million in grant funding. Less than 5% of foster or former foster youth graduate from college with four year degrees. “Every child should believe that their dreams matter, and that they have a future,” says Stacy Iverson, Interim President and CEO of Children’s Fund. “It is because of generous financial partners, like U.S. Bank, that youth from our own communities have a real opportunity to change their own futures through education, maybe even for generations to come.” In the past year, Children’s Fund has helped more than 60,000 children from every area of San Bernardino County. Created in 1986, Children’s Fund is a non-profit whose mission is to prevent child abuse in our community; to ensure that at-risk children who are abused, neglected, impoverished, or abandoned receive adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care and education; and to provide equal opportunity for social development for these children. Since its inception, Children’s Fund has helped more than 1.4 million children. For more information on Children’s Fund or to learn how you can give a child hope for brighter tomorrows by making a donation, go to www.childrensfundonline.org or call 909.379.0000.