4-H News:

43 4-Hers Recognized With Spirit of Community Awards

(Washington, DC) Forty-three 4-H members from across America were honored today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program that recognizes young people for exemplary acts of volunteerism.

Twenty-one 4-H members were among the 104 young people named State Honorees. Another 22 4-Hers out of a total of 236 students nationwide were named Distinguished Finalists.

Each of the 104 State Honorees will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, from April 30 to May 3 for several days of national recognition events. Ten of the State Honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2005 at that time. Each of the Distinguished Finalists will receive an engraved bronze medallion. More than 20,000 high school and middle level students across the country were considered for this year's awards.

Over the past 10 years, we've seen an incredible number of young Americans who have selflessly devoted their time and energy to helping others in their communities, said Arthur F. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. The volunteer work of this year's honorees is as inspiring as any we've seen, and we are honored to recognize the amazing contributions they've made to their neighborhoods, their cities and our nation.

The awards program is conducted by Prudential Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Information on the volunteer activities of all of the State Honorees can be found at www.prudential.com/spirit or at www.principals.org/awards/prudential.cfm.

The 4-H State Honorees are:

Tyler McGee, CA; Landon Bergner, CO; Kayla Martell, DE; Stephen Galloway, DE; Holly Poort, IA; Craig Peden, KY; Amanda Pittmon, LA; Greg Tusa, MN; Delaney Sweeney, MO; Jeff Wald, ND; Jami Harper, NE; Lindsey Plourde, NH; Margaret Fazenbaker, NM; John-Henry Lambin, NV; Michelle Rydell, SD; Barry Hill, UT; Caitlyn Hammersley, WA; Kelsey Marsolek, WI; Katie Ridenour, WV; Shilo Summers, WV; and Tanya Hamner, WY.

The 4-H Distinguished Finalists are:

Sydney Steely, AR; Oriana Beemer, CO; Zachary Hall, GA; Allyson Walker, GA; Brea Carico, IL; Veronica Cook, IN; Mary Foell, IA; Brad Harris, KS; Creighton Olsen, KS; Marcy Franks, KY; Stephanie Garcia, KY; Elizabeth Singleton, KY; Elizabeth Fike, MS; Gavin Flentge, MO; Rustee Clutter, OH; Kenna Baker, OK; Jered Davidson, OK; Carrie Highfill, OK; Kirstin Hanson, SD; Shiloh Long, TX; Julianne Cyr, VT; and Brianne Williams, WV.

You can view more information about these outstanding 4-Hers by clicking here.

All public and private middle level and high schools in the United States as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, Camp Fire USA councils and Volunteer Centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Local Honorees were then reviewed by state-level judges, who selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

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NFL Charities Awards Impact Grant to 4-H Afterschool

(Washington, DC) 4-H has been awarded a $376,500 Impact Grant from NFL Charities and its chairman, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue - the first ever funding alliance between the NFL and National 4-H Council.

The funds will be used to support 4-H Afterschool with a specific focus on workforce preparation. Grants will be made to ten states that will be responsible for training older teens to teach middle school youth about the skills needed for workforce readiness. Each state will establish a training team of youth and adults who will work in several counties across the state. Through this national initiative with NFL Charities, 4-H Afterschool hopes to reach 360 high school students, 7200 middle school youth, and 180 adult 4-H volunteers in 10 states.

This work with NFL Charities will build upon the strong foundation that 4-H Afterschool has been able to build through the generous support of JCPenney Afterschool Fund.

The program will seek to support a youth population across America, both in rural and urban areas, with a particular focus on underserved audience, including youth enrolled in 21st Century Community Learning Center programs that are considered academically at risk. This program will be implemented in partnership with National 4-H Headquarters, 4-H State Specialists, State 4-H Military Liaisons, and county Extension professionals.

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