Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, in partnership with the Kiita Foundation, has established a new scholarship program to support students with foster care experience pursuing community college.
The Kiita Scholarship will support at least 20 students each year and represents a significant portion of the organization’s higher education funding for current and former foster youth, according to a press release.
Students who receive the scholarship also will participate in the nonprofit’s Post-Secondary Program, which includes access to the Focus Forward Fund, providing emergency financial assistance.
“The Kiita Scholarship is the first AFFCF scholarship focused on supporting youth who choose to pursue community college versus a university. Attaining a degree can be challenging for youth with foster care experience not because of a lack of aspiration to attend college, but because the traditional four-year pathway fails to account for the complexity of their lives and situations,” Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation Chief Executive Officer and President Luis De La Cruz said.
“This new scholarship was designed to target and support students who contend with complexities that many traditional college students simply don’t, and we at AFFCF are grateful to the Kiita Foundation for their investment in our critical work.”
The scholarship is designed to provide flexible funding for participants in the Post-Secondary Program and to support community college pathways.
The Kiita Foundation, established in 2000 by Jim and Jo-Ann Armstrong, focuses on providing scholarships and support for students who have experienced foster care or other family challenges. The organization supports students in Arizona, Colorado and Montana.
“We know that a student’s past affects many things, but it does not need to shape their future potential and their success. We are proud to partner with AFFCF to invest in students entering the community colleges and to work together to help these young adults who deserve every chance to thrive,” Kiita Foundation Vice President of Programs Amy Armstrong said.
Students can apply for Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation scholarships this fall for use during the spring 2027 semester through the organization’s Post-Secondary Program webpage.
The Post-Secondary Program provides additional support beyond financial aid, including regular check-ins, student outings and care packages aimed at helping participants remain on track academically.
In 2025, the organization served 219 students through the program and awarded scholarships to 112 participants. Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation awarded a total of 178 scholarships and provided emergency and enrichment funds to 328 youth for needs such as groceries, gas and auto repairs.
