The Detroit Public Schools Foundation is committed to supporting the Detroit Public Schools Community District and its students by providing grants, scholarships, camps, and more. In an effort to promote higher learning and support college-bound students, the foundation has awarded more than $134,000 in scholarships since 2015 through its Detroit College Promise Scholarship program. Other scholarship programs are in place to support graduating seniors who are fine arts students, athletes, JROTC candidates, and academically advanced young women. Through grants, the foundation has been able to provide students with tens of thousands of dollars of funding for programs that aim to develop academic skills and career paths, and provide equipment for after school activities. The foundation has set up Camp Burt Shurly in hopes of getting children from inner-city neighborhoods to experience the outdoors and giving them the opportunity to spend time with other kids their age in a camp setting. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing students to make their home their classroom, the district found that 90 percent of its K-12 students lack an appropriate electronic device and adequate internet access. Hopeful to bring quality education and technology to these students, the foundation developed the Connected Futures initiative, designed to provide about 51,000 students in the district with connected devices, household internet, and technical support.
