A 2015 report by Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, titled Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults, noted “marginalized young adults—such as those living in poverty, those aging out of foster care, those in the justice system, those with disabilities, and young parents—are much less likely than other young adults to experience a successful transition to adulthood. Meeting the needs of marginalized young adults not only improves their lives, but also has the potential to help them become fully contributing members of society. [1]

The Philadelphia Foundation (PF) has a longstanding commitment to funding educational opportunities and supports for marginalized youth as do many of our donors and fundholders.

PF funds a special initiative at the Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program which is focused on working with neighborhood high schools to identify students who have experience in the foster care system, expose them to college opportunities and support the students through an application process which is even more complex than a typical college application process, given that many students have unusual family circumstances.

The Philadelphia Education Fund is an organization working to level the playing field by providing resources and expertise that build paths to college and career success, and on November 30, 2023, they took a group of 16 students, which included some students with experience in the foster care system, to tour Kutztown University’s campus, eat in the dining hall, meet students and learn about the university’s Providing Resources and Opportunities for Future Standouts Program (PROFS) – a program that provides additional supports to Kutztown students who have experienced the foster care system, homelessness and other challenges.

Youth in the foster care system are among the most marginalized, with estimates showing only 3% of former foster youth who enroll in college will graduate.

To help address these challenges, Philadelphia Foundation partnered with the Brook J. Lenfest Foundation in 2021 to create The Lenfest Immensitas Scholars program. This program aims to change this story through an innovative large-scale initiative designed to increase college graduation among up to 100 Philadelphia foster youth annually.

Immensitas is Latin for “boundless” and signifies the unlimited potential of every youth, as well as the life opportunities available to those with a college degree.

Under Pennsylvania’s Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program, tuition and fees for undergraduate degrees at colleges and universities in Pennsylvania are waived for youth in foster care to reduce financial barriers.

The $1.8 million Lenfest Immensitas Scholars Program covers room, board and expenses such as books, computers, and essentials for dorm living, while simultaneously leveraging an extensive support system for participants. The supports are designed to provide students with everything they need to ensure they graduate, including academic advising, a summer bridge program, housing and meals during school breaks, financial and money management guidance and a designated liaison at each school.

Penn State, Penn College of Technology, West Chester University and Harcum College are Immensitas partner schools,, as is College Together, and this spring, the Philadelphia Education Fund will lead visits to these schools and others to encourage college attendance.

References:____________________________

Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. 2015. Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/18869.