4-H News:

Sunday Kicks Off National 4-H Week

Sunday, October 2, 2005, is the first day of National 4-H Week! Join the community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills every day – 4-H. You still can promote National 4-H Week by going to www.4HUSA.org and clicking the National 4-H Week kit logo on the left.

National 4-H Week 2005 invites everyone to make the 4-H connection by connecting with clubs, organizations and schools in your communities to spread the word about what 4-H members are doing across America. With more than seven million young people in the 4-H community, it is a great time to talk about what 4-H does for you – and help other young people and adults learn about how they can become a member or volunteer.

Make sure to post your National 4-H Week events on www.4HUSA.org, so that others can see the great work you are doing. If you have any questions about how you can promote National 4-H Week, contact Allyson McMahan at amcmahan@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-961-2915.

National 4-H Week concludes Saturday, October 8, 2005.

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4-H Community ATV Safety Grant Recipients Trained

(Chevy Chase, Md.)—Teams of one adult and one youth from 22 grant sites that were recipients of the 2005 4-H Community ATV Safety Program Youth Grants recently engaged in training they will use to educate others in their communities about the importance of ATV safety.

Two training sessions were held. The first from August 15-16, 2005, at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md., and the second from September 15-16, 2005, at the Honda Rider Education Center in Colton, Calif.

The training was conducted by Mary Kroll, project writer for the ATV Adventures! Fit to Ride 4-H Community ATV Safety Program Leader’s Guide. The teams were instructed on safety issues, the importance of finding the appropriate-sized ATVs to ride, the proper safety gear, thinking clearly when riding, staying in control of the vehicle and more.

The teams have taken the information back to their communities and will train more adults and youth in the nuances of ATV safety, using their heads, hearts, hands and health to help others steer clear of potential dangers. More than 5,200 ATV-related deaths have occurred since the early 1980s, making this program especially relevant for ATV enthusiasts across America.

“4-H programs are unique because they are youth-adult collaborations,” said Susan Halbert, senior vice president of 4-H and extension relations, National 4-H Council. “Kids know how to talk to other kids so that they will listen, and youth working together with adults to make a difference in their communities is an important element of 4-H.”

4-H Community ATV Safety Program Youth Grants of $7,500 each are funded by American Honda Motor Company, Inc. and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA). The states receiving grants are Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.

(Chevy Chase, Md.)—Mary Kroll, instructor, adjusts a helmet for a youth participant from Indiana.
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Shenandoah County 4-Hers Sell Animals for Hurricane Katrina Relief
Submitted by: Leslie E. Funkhouser, 4-H Project Associate, Shenandoah County

(Shenandoah County, Va.)—While Hurricane Katrina was ravaging much of the Gulf Region of the United States, many 4-H members in Shenandoah County, Va., were showing their animals at the Shenandoah County Fair. Like the rest of the country, they were concerned about those who have lost everything, and they wanted to help. A grassroots effort began among the livestock exhibitors and their parents to donate part of their premium checks from selling their market animals to the American Red Cross for disaster relief.

One 4-H member, 10-year-old Darrian Dysart, of the Conicville 4-H and Shenandoah County 4-H Livestock clubs, was inspired by this effort and wanted to do more to help. He had an extra lamb and asked if it could be sold with the proceeds going to the same cause. Although it was the last lot to be sold at the end of a five-hour sale, 35 different buyers contributed a total of $3,689.23 toward the lamb.

These 4-H members and volunteers have been able to donate $5,194.23 to the American Red Cross as a result of their efforts. This donation will be used to help those immediately affected by Hurricane Katrina. Although the 4-H members were there to show and sell their project animals, they learned a valuable life lesson about citizenship and reaching out to help those in need, and in doing so, truly illustrated the 4-H Spirit.

(Shenandoah County, Va.)—Darrian Dysart stands with his lamb he sold to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
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NFL Wristbands Benefit JCPenney Afterschool Fund

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? What better way to show your spirit than to sport your favorite NFL team's official wristbands during the upcoming season? JCPenney is the exclusive retailer of the official NFL wristbands that are sure to be the hit of the summer. Each set sells for $2.99 and includes two wristbands in the team's home and away colors. All net profits from the sale of the wristbands and NFL royalties go to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, which provides support to after-school programs like 4-H Afterschool.

Visit your local JCPenney store to get your NFL wristband today. For more information on the JCPenney Afterschool Fund click here.
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This Edition's Top 4-H Headlines

As always, young people in 4-H are making headlines in newspapers across the country! Check out 4HUSA.org to read the following stories and more!

California: Local Katrina Relief Efforts
Illinois: 4-H & DOT helping victims
New York: Bubbles the Princess
North Carolina: Lincoln County 4-H Helpful Hands, Helping Hearts
Tennessee: Wedding 'Postponed' By Katrina Took Place Saturday At 4-H Camp
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Resources and Opportunities:

State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants Available

One hundred $1,000 grants, funded by the State Farm Companies Foundation, are available from Youth Service America for teachers, youth (ages 5-25), and school-based service-learning coordinators to implement service-learning projects for National Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006. State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants enable youth and educators to bring the positive benefits of service-learning to more young people across America.

Service-learning is a teaching method that combines meaningful service with curriculum or program-based learning. Schools and organizations use service-learning as a tool to help youth build stronger academic skills, foster civic responsibility, and develop leadership skills. Grant applications must be received by mail by Oct. 17, 2005 (available to United States applicants only). For questions or more information, please contact the grants department at GoodNeighbor@ysa.org or visit: www.ysa.org.
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CharityChannel Connects You to Other Non-Profits

Check out CharityChannel at charitychannel.com. CharityChannel is a resource that connects non-profit colleagues with each other across town, across the country and around the world. The CharityChannel community is comprised of non-profit sector professionals from around the world who volunteer their time, advice, information, tips and articles for the benefit of the community.

A subscription to CharityChannel gives you weekly updates of the latest philanthropic news in your community. CharityNews-USA is updated daily by a dedicated team of U.S.-based CharityChannel colleagues who volunteer to scour United States news sources and post summaries and links to articles of interest right here. Check out CharityNews – USA by clicking here.
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Good Knight Foundation Offers Free Educational Resources

The Good Knight Child Empowerment Network is offering a variety of educational resources for parents and teachers to keep children safe. The ABCs of Safety video teaches the 10 deceptions criminals use to lure victims into dangerous situations. The E-rated (for Everyone) film walks the viewer through the 10 basic deceptions that individuals use to abduct and victimize kids. The mentoring kit also includes an audio tape, activity book, curriculum guide and presenter's script to help implement this life saving program. To learn more click here.
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