WMU to hold Foster Care Awareness Walk

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—To celebrate May's designation as Foster Care Awareness Month, the Western Michigan University Seita Scholars Program is organizing a foster care awareness walk/run Saturday, May 20, on WMU's Kanley Track.

This is the second year for the annual 5K event, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The walk/run is an effort to spread awareness about foster care and fundraise for WMU's Seita Scholars Program, which is the largest and most comprehensive college program in the nation for young people who have aged out of foster care.

May is National Foster Care month, providing an opportunity for people all across the nation to focus their attention on the needs of youth in foster care. According to research by the Casey Family Programs, only around 2 to 4 percent of youth from the foster care system earned a college degree as of 2010. The Seita Scholars Program is part of a larger initiative to change the college-going paradigm of youth in the foster care system.

Registration

Participants in the WMU event are asked to register online at https://goo.gl/jC25gT or by calling (269) 387-8341 prior to April 30th. Late registration on May 20 begins at 9 a.m., and the walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. The fee includes a T-shirt, music, food and more. Once registered, a pledge form will be emailed to participants to guide them as they seek donors to sponsor their lap(s) around the track as they raise funds for the Seita Scholars Program.

Agencies seeking to bring awareness to services or programs they provide may purchase a ticket for $50 and a table will be provided to set up for information sharing. Those who can't attend the walk and would like to sponsor a student can do so for $25.

For sponsorship levels and information, contact Rachel Johnson at (269) 387-834.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.