Making sure the youth in foster care get a good education is crucial to their future, Andrew Bridge told Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Karen Kapsidelis.

The newspaper quotes Bridge as saying,

And sadly, we don’t do that right now.

The best-selling author will be sharing details about his life growing out of foster care at the Great Expectations Education Forum Saturday at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.  The event, which features Bridge along with First Lady Anne Holton, begins at 10:30 a.m.

In an advance to the event published in today’s Richmond Times Dispatch, Bridge said he received a sense of worth from doing well in school. Bridge said in the newspaper report:

The Great Expectations initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education is all about helping foster youth make a successful transition into life after foster care by providing services including academic and workforce services at Virginia’s Community Colleges.

First Lady Anne Holton will be moderating a discussion among foster care youth at the event. She has had a keen interest in foster care and families through her For Keeps initiative.

The event is open to the public, although registration is requested at GreatExpectations.vccs.edu.