RELEASE: DeVos Foundation Donates $250,000 to Palmetto Promise Institute’s ESTF Families Rescue Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DeVos Foundation Donates $250,000 to Palmetto Promise Institute’s ESTF Families Rescue Fund
COLUMBIA, SC — The Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation has made a generous $250,000 donation to the ESTF Families Fund, an initiative launched by Palmetto Promise Institute to assist low-income families impacted by the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the state’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) last fall.
In September 2024, the court’s ruling halted South Carolina’s newly enacted education scholarship account (ESA) program, which had provided $6,000 scholarships for low-income families to use toward private school tuition and other education-related expenses. The sudden decision left thousands of children already weeks into their school year without the financial assistance they were promised.
Palmetto Promise Institute, a leading South Carolina think tank dedicated to advancing education freedom, immediately mobilized private donors to create the ESTF Families Rescue Fund, ensuring that affected students would not be forced to leave their schools. The DeVos Foundation’s generous contribution will directly support families who have been left in limbo due to the court’s ruling.
“We are incredibly honored and grateful to receive this generous donation from Dick and Betsy DeVos, who have long been champions of education freedom,” said Wendy Damron, President and CEO of Palmetto Promise Institute. “Their commitment to expanding school choice and ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education is truly inspiring. This donation is a lifeline for families who have been left without options, and it brings us one step closer to ensuring that every student can remain in the school of their choice.”
Betsy DeVos, former U.S. Secretary of Education and a lifelong advocate for school choice, has dedicated decades to empowering parents with the ability to choose the best educational opportunities for their children. Through the DeVos Foundation, she continues to invest in initiatives that expand access to quality education across the country.
“No child in South Carolina should be limited in their educational options,” said Betsy Devos. “A poorly reasoned and terribly timed judicial decision threw thousands of lower-income students and their families into chaos, not knowing if they would be able to stay enrolled in their schools or not. These kids deserve better. We are proud to partner with Palmetto Promise Institute and many other like-minded individuals to ensure every student can stay in the school that works for them while the Governor and legislature fix this problem. We look forward to education freedom’s return to the Palmetto State soon.”
The DeVos Foundation’s gift joins large contributions from Jeff Yass, Ravenel B. Curry III, the Children’s Scholarship Fund, the JM Foundation, and an anonymous donor, as well as many other generous donors. While the DeVos Foundation’s contribution is a significant step forward, the ESTF Families Rescue Fund still requires an additional $500,000 to fully support affected students through the end of the 2024-25 school year. Palmetto Promise Institute continues to seek additional contributions to bridge this gap and ensure families have the stability they need while lawmakers work toward a long-term solution to restore school choice in South Carolina.
To learn more about the ESTF Families Rescue Fund, visit palmettopromise.org/rescuefund. Palmetto Promise Institute invites others who are passionate about educational opportunities to join Betsy Devos in supporting the ESTF Families Rescue Fund to help fully fund ESTF students for the rest of the school year. 100% of donations go to pay affected students’ tuition. For more information on the Fund or to contribute, please contact wendy@palmettopromise.org or give at palmettopromise.org/donate.
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Palmetto Promise Institute (PPI) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational organization. Founded in 2013, Palmetto Promise Institute champions free-market policies across five key areas: Education, Fiscal Policy, Healthcare, Energy, and Quality of Life. The Institute’s mission is to promote policies that enable every South Carolinian to thrive and reach their full potential.
Contact: Wendy Damron
wendy@palmettopromise.org
(803) 530-1974
