Gov. Gregoire participates in Governors� Cup Golf Tournament

For Immediate Release: September 14, 2009

ISSAQUAH � For young people like Naomi Nelson, Marko Kila and other Washington state foster youth, the annual Governors� Cup Golf Tournament provides the opportunity to take their first step on the way to college.

And for Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and all six of the state�s living former chief executives � Dan Evans, Booth Gardner, Gary Locke, Mike Lowry, Albert D. Rosellini and John Spellman - the cup is a way to raise scholarship dollars that recognize the long, often difficult path foster youth take to higher education.

�You see how unique the Governors� Cup Golf Tournament is by looking at the rest of the country,� Gregoire said. �Nationally, so few foster youth go on to college � just three percent. And even fewer actually earn an associate or bachelor�s degree. Here, the College Success Foundation is managing a program that not only offers foster youth scholarships, but helps them make the transition from foster families to college campuses.�

Earlier this year, Naomi Nelson of Seattle, Marko Kila of Centralia and 42 other foster youth were awarded Governors� Scholarships for Foster Youth at a ceremony at Columbia Tower in Seattle. The scholarship program is primarily funded by proceeds from the annual Governors� Cup Golf Tournament, which raises approximately $500,000 per year. Organizers hope to top the half-million dollar mark in contributions at the 2009 tournament and award additional scholarships in 2010.

Bob Craves, CEO and founder of the College Success Foundation, said, �We want to thank Governor Gregoire and all the state�s former governors for supporting this program. Every young person deserves the chance to pursue the career of his or her choice. With the help of a scholarship, foster youth can achieve a college education and grow to reach their full potential as successful and productive citizens.�

Former Governor Gary Locke created the Governors' Scholarship for Foster Youth program in 2001. Gregoire continues to support and advocate for the program. The Governors' Scholarship was established to assist Washington youth who will transition from state or federally recognized foster, group or kinship care to enroll in and complete degrees or certificates at eligible colleges in Washington.

Governors� Scholarships range from $2,000 to $4,000 per year, depending on the college attended. Students can use their scholarships for up to five years to complete a bachelor�s degree. Students receive on-campus mentoring in the first two years to help acclimate them to collegiate life.

To qualify for the Governors� Scholarship, applicants must be a ward of the court, be enrolled in a Washington State high school as a senior and be scheduled for graduation, have lived in the state for at least three academic years, and have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.0.

Additional information can be found at the College Success Foundation�s web site at www.collegesuccessfoundation.org/gs.