Marcus Paul is one of those young people whose enthusiasm for the future is contagious.

A student at South Georgia Technical College, Paul speaks with confidence about his goal of helping keep commercial aircraft safe. He’s learning how to frame, pressurize, and power airplanes—skills that could take him anywhere in the world.

“Commercial airlines must be worked on at the location where they are at, so when you are in aviation you can see the world,” Paul said. “I would like to be able to work on planes in places like Japan, Europe, and even Greenland.”

But enrolling in such a specialized program was far from easy for this 21yearold. Paul has no family to encourage him or help financially. He spent eight years in Georgia’s foster care system and aged out without the support most young adults take for granted.

Thanks to Georgia’s new $30 million Foster Care Tax Credit program, Paul no longer has to work long hours at a local car wash to cover rent, groceries, car insurance, or his phone bill. Through the nonprofit Fostering Success Act (FSA), the tax credit is helping him meet basic needs so he can focus on his demanding coursework.

“Only five percent of the students who enroll in this aviation program pass,” said Paul, now in his second semester. “The classes are so demanding since it is aircraft safety. But I passed all my classes so far since it requires a lot of studying.”

Each year, more than 600 young people age out of Georgia’s foster care system. Most end up in hourly wage jobs with limited opportunity for advancement. Many face homelessness, poverty, or dependence on public assistance. Research from the United States Senate found that onefifth of the prison population spent time in foster care, and 71 percent of young women leaving foster care become pregnant within the first year.

Pursuing a professional career was rarely possible—until now.

Under this new tax credit, Georgia taxpayers can redirect a portion of their state income taxes to support these youth, reducing their own tax burden whether they file individually, jointly, as sole proprietors, or as C corporations.

Since its inception, FSA has served 766 young adults with taxcredit funds, making it possible for them to attend college or technical school, enroll in apprenticeship programs, or obtain their GED.

The tax credit covers the kinds of expenses a parent would normally shoulder: healthcare, housing, school supplies, computers, transportation, and even car repairs. Some students need major dental or medical care before they can focus on school. Others need help with textbooks, rent, or reliable transportation to class. FSA also provides each student with a mentor—someone to encourage them and help them navigate adulthood.

Paul is exactly the kind of young person who deserves this chance. He knows what he wants to do with his life, and he is working hard to build a career that will allow him to repair aircraft across the globe.

This is what makes the Foster Care Tax Credit so powerful. It gives former foster youth a real path to independence and a way out of generational poverty—while giving taxpayers a meaningful way to reduce their state income taxes.

May is National Foster Care Month. There is no better time for Georgia taxpayers to take advantage of this opportunity to lower their tax burden and change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

To apply for the tax credit, visit: https://fosteringsuccessact.org/start-the-process/tax-credit/

Carr is executive director of Fostering Success Act, Inc., the largest nonprofit raising funds and serving youth through Georgia’s foster care tax credit.