<p>“collegialmom, The Gates Foundation in fact does have grants and educational opportunities for “poor whites” as you put it. The school my son will attend next fall is a Gates Foundation-sponsored charter school with a mandate that 2/3rds of the kids live in poor areas that include, yes, poor white areas as well” </p>
<p>Well, there are LOTS of poor whites. Adigal mentions groups in upstate NY, and I have seen MANY in other states. They actually have no running water, and really not much future beyond welfare or a job at WlalMart, if they are lucky. But here is the program cited, from the Gates Foundation, specifically for “low-income students of color.” It was originally funded with $1 billion. Although well-meaning, it is prejudicial and short-sighted, I think.</p>
<p>Here is their latest press release:</p>
<p>Scholarship Program Continues To Remove Barriers to Higher Education for Minority Students</p>
<p>Gates Millennium Scholars Program awards its newest class of 1,000 talented low-income students of color with scholarships to pursue college degrees.</p>
<p>Fairfax, VA – The seventh class of Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) has been announced. 1,000 high-achieving students, from across the country, have been selected to receive the scholarship award for the 2007-2008 academic year. With this support, these students will be able to attend any college or university of their choice without the financial burden which can often prevent many highly qualified young people from pursuing a college education.</p>
<p>The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) program, launched with a $1 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to reduce financial barriers and increase the number of African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian- and Pacific Islander- American, and Hispanic-American students enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This year’s Gates Scholars were chosen from an applicant pool of over 12,000 students, and come from 822 different high schools in 47 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and Federated States of Micronesia.</p>