BELIEVE!

I BELIEVE that every child in Missouri should have an opportunity for a college education or vocational training.  That is why we are starting a new initiative called BELIEVE which stands for Bringing Educational Leadership by Investing and Expecting Victory in Every child. Currently, the state of Missouri has over 11,000 kids in foster care.  At age 18, these kids are no longer the responsibility of the State of Missouri.   As State Treasurer I oversee the Missouri MOST program (Missouri Savings for Tuition), which provides tax-free college savings and investments for Missourians.  Although typically used by parents, the program is available for any Missouri individual or entity wanting to establish an account on behalf of a beneficiary.  

I am challenging Missouri’s businesses, churches, civic groups, other non profits, and citizens to sponsor one or more of our state’s foster kids with a Missouri MOST college savings account.  As a mother, I know that the key to a child’s success is belief in themselves.  For most kids, it’s their parent who instills this confidence, but many foster children don’t have any one who believes in them.  I am asking you to be that person.  This is the chance to make a difference in the life of a child.

Changing the life of a child forever is as easy as calling my office.  We can provide profiles of Missouri’s foster children and you can choose the child that you would like to sponsor, decide how much you would like to invest each year, and set up a MOST investment account.   By making these contributions you are eligible for a tax deduction for the amount you have contributed (up to $8,000 each year per taxpayer).  But most importantly, your action is giving the keys to a limitless future to a child who might otherwise not ever have that hope – because you, and therefore that child, BELIEVED! 

• Individual Account - typical MOST registration.
• Custodial Account - used to open an account by a custodian (UGMA/UTMA).
• Entity Account - used by trusts or estates, business entities,
  IRC501(c)(3) organizations, or state/local governments.

Our kickoff sponsor for the BELIEVE program is:

Frequently Asked Questions

STATISTICS

Missouri State Treasurer
Sarah Steelman
PO Box 210
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 751-2411
http://www.treasurer.mo.gov