The Obama Foundation has announced a $100 million gift from Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky to launch a scholarship program for students pursuing careers in public service.

The Voyager Scholarship: The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service will support students in their junior and senior years of college with up to $50,000 in financial aid; a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior years of college; a $2,000 travel credit every year for 10 years following graduation; an annual summit; and a network of mentors. The program is expected to support 100 students in the first year and scale to support greater numbers of students over coming years.

“If we want this next generation of leaders to be able to do what they need to do, they have to meet each other. They have to know each other. They have to understand each other's communities,” said former U.S. president Barack Obama. “You’re going to find young people from every corner of this country who are going to be future change makers. There are leaders everywhere. We just have to find them.”

“We need a generation of leaders who are willing to cooperate and build bridges, but it’s hard to build a bridge if you haven’t seen the other side of the river,” said Chesky, who joined the Giving Pledge in 2016. “The Voyager Scholarship will broaden their horizons and give these young leaders tools and experiences that will shape their careers. There are young people across the country who have a passion for public service but can’t pursue it because of their student loan debt. We want to help reduce that burden.”

(Photo credit: Obama Foundation)