Invest America Applauds Hawai'i Governor Josh Green for Opening Funded Investment Accounts for ALL Eligible Foster Kids

Through private contributions from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Ed Freedman's Stable Road Foundation, Hawai'i is the first Democrat-led state to ensure that every child in foster care has a funded Trump Account.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On America’s Independence Day and the 250th Anniversary of our country’s founding, Trump Accounts will be open for enrollment. This transformational investment opportunity provides newborn children a $1,000 federal seed investment in the U.S. stock market, while also creating an investment vehicle for children ages two to seventeen to realize the promise of compound interest that our public markets offer.

Today’s announcement from Hawai’i Governor Josh Green to open a funded account for all eligible foster kids in Hawai’i is a momentous milestone to ensure that all eligible children will be enrolled.

This announcement was made possible from partnerships with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Ed Freedman's Stable Road Foundation, which will fund accounts for children that fall out of the eligibility window of the federal seed investment. In doing so, the State is closing every remaining funding gap so that all eligible foster children in Hawai'i have a funded investment account.

Hawai’i Governor Josh Green released the following statement on the announcement:

“Our responsibility is to give every child the opportunity to succeed, especially those who depend on the state for care. By ensuring every eligible foster child has a funded investment account, we are giving these young people a stronger foundation as they enter adulthood. I’m deeply grateful to the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Ed Freedman’s Stable Road Foundation for helping make Hawaiʻi the first state in the nation to achieve this.”

Stable Road Foundation Founder Ed Freedman said:

“Every child in Hawaiʻi deserves a chance to reach their fullest potential, and no keiki should be left behind, regardless of their circumstances. The federal government and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation are caring for our foster children through age 10 — so we’re stepping in to provide $250 in seed funding for the Trump Account of every foster child in Hawaiʻi ages 11 to 17, the one group no one else was covering. We’re proud to partner with Governor Green and Invest America to make Hawaiʻi the first state in the country where every foster child, at every age, starts with a funded account — and we’re calling on leaders across the state and the nation to do the same.”

Invest America Executive Director Matt Lira said:

“Today's announcement by Governor Green, and Ed Freedman’s Stable Road Foundation is a watershed moment for foster children across Hawai’i. One of the most important legacies we can leave the next generation is expanded hope and opportunity, and a real stake in the upside of the American economy delivers both.”

Details

The announcement responds to First Lady Melania Trump's national "Fostering the Future" initiative, which established Section 530A accounts giving children in foster care a dedicated savings and investment vehicle they can access at age 18. In Hawai'i, every eligible foster child will now be both enrolled and funded through a combination of federal and philanthropic support:

• The federal government and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation provide seed investment for foster children through age 10; and
• Ed Freedman's Stable Road Foundation funds accounts for every foster child ages 11 to 17 — the one age band that has not been previously funded — with a $250 contribution for each child.

About the Partners

Ed Freedman's Stable Road Foundation is a Maui-based philanthropic organization committed to Hawai'i's keiki and communities. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation supports children's opportunity nationwide. Both partners are working alongside Invest America, the nonpartisan initiative helping families in all 50 states open children's savings accounts, to bring the "Fostering the Future" program to every foster child in Hawai'i.