Alabama Gives Day Promo

Youth across Alabama will benefit from donations made to Alabama 4-H on Alabama Gives Day -- a statewide, online giving day set for Thursday, Feb. 2.

Alabama 4-H, through the fundraising arm of the Alabama 4-H Club Foundation, Inc., is one of the many nonprofit organizations in Alabama participating in a massive, statewide effort to give to nonprofits.

The Alabama Association of Nonprofits, in partnership with the Alabama Broadcasters Association, is taking one day to harness the power of individual contributions statewide, asking people to give online during this 24-hour period.

All donations made to 4-H during Alabama Gives Day will be directed to the county 4-H program where the donor lives, unless otherwise designated by the donor. 4-H does not charge membership fees and reduces the cost of program and event fees to ensure Alabama youth can participate.

For county programs, Alabama Gives Day donations will mean expanded educational programs, lower program fees and more opportunities for youth.

Grant Lyons, Alabama Cooperative Extension System county coordinator in Pike County, says money raised from Pike County donors during Alabama Gives Day will be directed to specialty clubs.

"One club that will benefit from these funds is the Junior Master Gardeners club in the special needs class at Charles Henderson High School," Lyons says. "Currently this club has a very small garden, and we would like to expand on it, allowing the kids opportunities to become more involved with the gardening efforts. Money raised will allow us to purchase supplies and equipment to add gardening space. This addition will not only benefit the club, but will also benefit the entire school."

Janet Lovelady, 4-H Extension agent assistant in Lauderdale County, says they will use donations to fund the cost of summer programs. "Lauderdale County has a long tradition of providing camps for youth during summer months when youth are not in school," she says.

Lauderdale County summer programs include topics on healthy eating, canvas art, robotics and rocketry, jelly making, doggy day camp, sewing skills, cake decorating and gardening. "These programs build life skills in the youth, keep kids active and involved during the summer, and help prepare them for some of the competitions we have throughout the 4-H year," Lovelady adds.

In Houston, Henry and Dale counties, Regional Extension Agent Doug Summerford says gifts to ensure youth are able to attend summer camps and special field trips are a priority. "Many times, 4-H'ers are simply unable to go to summer camp due to the camp fee or issues with transportation to the Alabama 4-H Center," Summerford says. "With monies raised through Alabama Gives Day, we hope to send several 4-H'ers to summer camp this year."

Amy Burgess, Extension county coordinator in Etowah County, says a priority for that county will be providing financial assistance to youth so they can attend 4-H Summer Camp, assisting with county 4-H summer workshops, buying awards for members, volunteer resources and educational kits for clubs.

Pamela Stenz, Extension county coordinator in Wilcox County, says, "4-H plays a big part in the lives of our fifth- and sixth-grade students in Wilcox County.

"The money we receive will go directly to buying supplies to promote Agriculture in the Classroom," she says. "This curriculum was identified as a need by the teachers in the fifth and sixth grades. Even though this is a rural Black Belt county, many of the students do not know where food actually comes from.

"The Extension office would like to coordinate a Farm Day where all of the 4-H'ers could come and work together on a farm for a day," Stenz says. "Some of the many activities the students would participate in are feeding the animals, planting a garden, learning about the different types of soil, and learning how to churn butter and milk a cow. Leaders in our community would work hand in hand with our students."

Stenz says another goal for Wilcox County donations is to create and maintain current school gardens. "One of the goals of 4-H is to teach children how to eat healthy," she says. "This is a great fun way to teach nutrition to our students and also stress to them the value of all the farmers in our county."

To learn more about Alabama Gives Day and Alabama 4-H, go to www.Alabama4H.com.


About Alabama 4-H

Alabama 4-H is the state's largest youth education organization, reaching more than 84,000 youth between the ages of 9 and 18. There are nearly 1,700 clubs throughout Alabama's 67 counties. 4-H teaches leadership, citizenship and positive character development, and provides programs, competitions, events and activities for youth in rural and urban settings through in-school programs, community clubs and special interest groups. To find out more about Alabama 4-H, go to www.Alabama4H.com.

Category:

Education

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• 4-H
• youthdevelopment
• Educational
• Alabama