Kinkade honors foster children
In the 1960s, Mississippi Rep. Bill Kinkade lived in a group home for children in the shadow of the State Capitol. There the young boy looked up at the eagle on top of the Capitol and asked “Can anyone help me? Does anyone know I am here?”
Years passed and Kinkade grew up to manhood and answered his question for all foster children in the state.
Yes, someone cares.
Members of the Mississippi Legislature care. The governor cares.
Wednesday, April 27, the Bill Kinkade Faith Scholarship Program (HB1313) was signed by Gov. Tate Reeves. It offers a free college education to any girl or boy up until age 25, who was in foster care after their 13 birthday.
“I had a very surreal moment looking up at that same eagle, while thinking about this bill, realizing that all along I had been the person that could help,”Kinkade said.
He never let growing up in foster care hold him back, nor did he use it as a crutch, he said.
“Instead, I used it as strength to grow a successful business and create a beautiful family with my wife, Debbie,” Kinkade said at the bill signing ceremony. “This is the hope, that, I pray, a bill of this gravity can bring our children in the foster care system. It not only lets them know there are people out there who know they exist and care about them; it also sets them up for a proper education to herald in a successful life and career outside the custody of the state.”
Sarah Faye Sawyer, executive director of the Byhalia Area Chamber Main Street and friend of the Kinkades, congratulated the representative on the scholarship bearing his name. Kinkade was the primary author of the bill. He has also been a dedicated member and officer of the Chamber Main Street for many years.
“This was a special Mississippi day to protect and is dedicated to make Mississippi a familyoriented state,” Sawyer said. “The Kinkade Faith Scholarship is a new scholarship program for foster children to pursue a secondary education. This is in partnership with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.”
Eligible college bound candidates will be able to apply for a scholarship to attend a publicly-owned university or community college in Mississippi beginning with the 20232024 academic year. It pays the cost for attendance and also supplies a mentor to help the applicant adapt to independent living at college.
Kinkade, representative for House District 52, expressed his joy at the legislation. He said the bill was pushed by “a large, diverse group of kind-hearted people who are pushing every day to ensure the success and happiness of our state’s foster care children.”
The bill funds $1 million to the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance board to administer the program.
Cost of attendance is less any federal, state or private aid to the eligible awardee. Funding is available to eligible part-time or full-time students, living on or off campus and includes tuition, fees, books and living expenses. Renewals are contingent on satisfactory academic progress.
Young adults age 18 to 21 are eligible to apply on July 1, 2022.
The award covers college tuition or technical school tuition for Mississippi foster youth and includes tuition, fees, room and board at any state or private nonprofit university or community college.